Investigators revealed Colt used an AR-15-style rifle in the attack, a firearm purchased by his father as a Christmas gift. As per the report by the Post, the rifle was given from father to son as a gift just seven months after authorities paid the pair a visit in May when the FBI received tips about online school shooting threats.
No evidence found in previous threat investigation
The teen was interviewed after the sheriff received a tip from the FBI that Gray, then 13, “had possibly threatened to shoot up a middle school tomorrow.” The threat was made on Discord, a social media platform popular with video gamers, according to the sheriff’s office incident report.
Despite past investigations into threats made by Colt online, law enforcement had found no substantial evidence to act at the time.
Sheriff Janis Mangum explained the earlier investigation: “The case was worked thoroughly last year, but at the time, the evidence wasn’t strong enough to confiscate their weapons.”
Colin had assured authorities that his son had no unsupervised access to the family’s hunting guns, but that assurance has since proven tragically insufficient.
FBI tip and teen’s denial: Key details emerged
The FBI’s tip pointed to a Discord account associated with an email address linked to Colt Gray, the report said. But the boy said “he would never say such a thing, even in a joking manner,” according to the investigator’s report.
The interview transcript quotes the teen as saying: “I promise I would never say something where …” with the rest of that denial listed as inaudible.
“He knows the seriousness of weapons and what they can do, and how to use them and not use them,” the father, Colin Gray, said according to a transcript obtained from the sheriff’s office.
Authorities are now focusing on how Colt accessed the weapon and whether earlier warning signs could have prevented the attack.
Violent attack with semiautomatic weapon
Authorities have now charged Colt as an adult with murder, accusing him of using a semiautomatic rifle to kill four and injure nine others. He had a history of struggling with his parent’s separation and was often bullied, his father told investigators last year. Despite those issues, the teen frequently went hunting with his father, who described the “greatest day ever” when Colt shot his first deer.
Questions over missed warnings and access to guns
Colt and his father had been interviewed after the FBI tipped authorities about the teen possibly threatening to shoot up a school. The investigator’s report noted inconsistencies, including the fact that the Discord account had been accessed in multiple locations, including Buffalo, New York, and featured profile details written in Russian. Despite the concerning behavior, no arrests were made due to a lack of evidence.
Colin Gray, Colt’s father, admitted that guns were accessible in their home, but claimed they were unloaded. Colt had been photographed with blood smeared on his cheeks from hunting trips, further emphasizing the family’s exposure to firearms.
How the attack unfolded
The shooting began when Colt left his Algebra class and tried to re-enter, but a student saw the gun and refused to let him in. He then turned to a nearby classroom and opened fire, firing 10 to 15 rounds.
“I think he wanted to come to us first,” His classmate, Lyela Sayarath, said, reported CNN.
The first reports of an active shooter came in at around 10:20 am (local time) School resource officers and law enforcement quickly responded, and Colt was taken into custody after a brief confrontation.
“I heard gunshots outside my classroom and people screaming, people begging not to get shot,” said 14-year-old Macey Right. “And then people sitting beside me (were) just shaking and crying.”
The mass shooting at Apalachee High School marks the 30th such incident in the US this year.
The victims
The shooting claimed the lives of two 14-year-old students, Christian Angulo and Mason Schermerhorn, as well as two beloved teachers, math teacher Christina Irimie and assistant football coach Richard Aspinwall.
“We are truly heartbroken,” Christian’s older sister, Lisette Angulo, shared on a GoFundMe page to support the family.
Apalachee Football also expressed their grief for Aspinwall: “To our beloved defensive coordinator Ricky Aspinwall, we will carry you heavy in our hearts.”
Teen accused of school shooting was interviewed last year
Colt Gray, the 14-year-old accused of carrying out the deadly shooting at Apalachee High School, had denied ever threatening a school attack when interviewed by authorities in 2023. Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum defended the investigation from last year, saying, “We did not drop the ball at all on this. We did all we could do with what we had at the time.” The interview followed an FBI tip about a threat made on Discord, but conflicting evidence prevented an arrest.
School’s response
The faculty’s quick actions, paired with newly implemented safety protocols like the Centegix alert system, likely prevented the tragedy from being even worse. “The protocols in this school and this system activated today prevented this from being a much larger tragedy than what we had,” said Georgia Bureau of Investigations Director Chris Hosey.
The mass shooting at Apalachee High School marks the 30th such incident in the US this year.
Past threats and investigations
Colt had previously been investigated for threats made online in 2023, including an ominous reference to Sandy Hook shooter Adam Lanza. While both Colt and his father denied any intent to commit violence, the case was closed due to insufficient evidence.
“The 13-year-old denied making the threats online,” Sheriff Mangum said in a Facebook post. However, the recent tragedy has reopened scrutiny into whether enough was done at the time.
Next steps
Colt Gray, currently in custody, is being held without bond and will be tried as an adult on charges of felony murder. His first court appearance is set for Friday, and investigators are piecing together how the gun was brought to school and if anyone else was involved in planning the attack.
As the Apalachee High School community grapples with the shock of the incident, students like Macey express their fears about returning to school. “I really don’t want to go back. I feel like I shouldn’t have to go back to school worrying about dying.”