Colt Gray, the 16-year-old responsible for a 2024 shooting at Apalachee High School near Atlanta, entered guilty pleas Friday to multiple charges including felony murder, aggravated assault, and first-degree cruelty to children. The attack resulted in four fatalities and nine injuries. Gray appeared in Barrow County Superior Court wearing glasses and a dark suit, facing victims’ families who urged the judge to impose a sentence without the possibility of parole.
In September 2024, Gray opened fire inside the school armed with an AR-15-style rifle, killing two 14-year-old students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, and two teachers, Cristina Irimie and Richard Aspinwall. The incident marked the youngest school shooting perpetrator in a quarter-century. Authorities recovered materials at Gray’s home referencing prior mass shootings, including the 2018 attack at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida.
During the hearing, Judge Nicholas Primm confirmed Gray’s mental competency and understanding of his plea and its consequences. Gray faces a mandatory life sentence, with the judge deciding on parole eligibility.
The plea follows the March 2026 conviction of Gray’s father, Colin Gray, who was found guilty of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in a landmark case holding a parent criminally responsible for a child’s school shooting. Prosecutors argued Colin Gray failed to secure the weapon given as a Christmas gift in 2023 and ignored clear signs of his son’s declining mental health. Colin Gray testified that he did not foresee the rifle being used in a mass shooting.
Marcee Gray, Colt’s mother and estranged from her husband, testified during the trial that she had sought help for her son’s troubled state. She alerted school counselors on the morning of the shooting, describing the situation as an “extreme emergency” and requesting immediate intervention.
The Apalachee High community was deeply affected by the violence, which occurred amid ongoing national concerns about gun violence in schools. During the shooting, students and staff sought refuge in darkened classrooms, sending final messages to loved ones.
Family members of the victims spoke publicly following the plea, reflecting on the lasting impact of the tragedy. Shayna Aspinwall, widow of teacher Richard Aspinwall, described the profound void left by her husband’s death and stressed the importance of a life sentence without parole for Gray. Breanna Schermerhorn, whose son Mason was killed, acknowledged systemic failures that may have contributed to Gray’s actions but emphasized that he was aware of the moral implications of his choices and should be held fully accountable.
Gray’s sentencing is pending as the court considers whether he will be eligible for parole at any point during his life term.