Second-Degree Murder for Gifting AR-Style Rifle to Son Accused in Deadly School Shooting
In a landmark verdict that could reshape accountability for parents in school shootings, Colin Gray was convicted Tuesday of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter for giving his teenage son the assault-style rifle used in the 2024 Apalachee High School massacre that killed four people. A Barrow County jury deliberated for less than two hours before finding Gray, 55, guilty on all 29 counts against him, including two counts of second-degree murder, multiple counts of involuntary manslaughter, and child cruelty charges. The decision marks one of the first times in U.S. history a parent has been held criminally responsible for murder in connection with a mass school shooting carried out by their child. Gray faces 10 to 30 years in prison on the murder charges alone when he is sentenced at a later date. Prosecutors argued that Gray knowingly gave his then-14-year-old son, Colt Gray, access to the AR-15-style rifle as a Christmas gift in 2023 — despite clear warning signs t...