On September 4, 14-year-old suspect Colt Gray opened fire in Apalachee High School, killing four and injuring nine. He used a rifle gifted to him by his father, Colin Gray.
Two days later, Piedmont Judicial Circuit District Attorney Brad Smith charged Colt Gray as an adult with four counts of felony murder, with additional charges expected to follow. Then, Smith charged Colin Gray with two counts of second-degree murder, four counts of involuntary manslaughter, and eight counts of cruelty to children.
Colin Gray failed to act responsibly and prevent the dangerous actions of his son. As a result, he should be held accountable for his inaction.
Colin Gray is not wrong simply for allowing his son to possess a weapon. Colin Gray’s gift of a firearm to his son wouldn’t be unusual in certain parts of the United States, especially in the South. Many children and teens in certain parts of the country learn from a young age to use guns for sport or recreation. The issue stems from what happened after Colin Gray gave his son a new rifle.
Smith said in a news conference this is the first time in Georgia history that the parent of a school shooting suspect has been charged in connection with the crime.
“My understanding is that this is the second time in the United States and the first time in Georgia,” he told media.
It is important to remember we only know a little about this case. In criminal cases, the district attorney determines the charges to file against a suspect. The district attorney has an ethical obligation to ensure that he is correctly charging the suspects based on the evidence he has — even if those reasons are not disclosed to the public.
It is up to the prosecutor, and then up to a grand jury, to decide if Colin should not have supplied his son with a weapon based on his knowledge of his son’s mental stability.
There is a case precedent for the charges against Colin Gray. In 2021, Michigan residents James and Jennifer Crumbley became the first parents convicted as the result of a U.S. mass school shooting. Prosecutor Karen McDonald charged the Crumbley parents, and the jury convicted them of involuntary manslaughter — the same charge facing Colin Gray.
These charges make sense as the law recognizes that parents are responsible for teaching their children safety. If the prosecutor believes Colin Gray failed to protect society from his son, the father bears the weight of that failure and could be criminally liable.
This case has the potential to impact future legislature significantly. Much of the effect will depend on whether Colin Gray is convicted, whether he appeals, and whether that appeal affirms this act to fall within criminal law. In the meantime, we should focus on protecting ourselves and one another from potential threats.