BARROW COUNTY, Ga. — The trial for Colin Gray, accused of a shooting incident at Apalachee High School, took a dramatic turn as jurors were shown footage of the teenager inside his classroom concealing a firearm.
Court coverage by Channel 2’s Courtney Francisco detailed the opening day of the trial against Gray’s father, who is facing charges related to his son’s actions. Barrow County District Attorney Brad Smith argued that Colin Gray had purchased a semi-automatic rifle for his son, despite being aware of the potential dangers involved.
“In seventh grade, the FBI accused Colt of making threats to shoot an elementary school,” said Smith, referring to an earlier incident in Jackson County. The trial’s timeline reveals that just seven months after that accusation, Colin Gray allegedly allowed his son to keep the rifle in his bedroom.
Smith emphasized the father’s awareness of his son’s violent tendencies, mentioning that Colt had previously threatened a school shooting and even had a shrine to a convicted school shooter displayed on his wall. The narrative presented by Smith depicted a father who turned a blind eye to his son’s alarming behavior.
“The defendant’s reaction upon the arrival of deputies, ‘I knew it,’ is not necessarily proof of negligence or knowledge of his son’s mindset,” countered defense attorney Brian Hobbs.
As the first day of testimony unfolded, three teachers who experienced the shooting firsthand described their attempts to protect students. Barrow County Sheriff Judd Smith recounted the harrowing experience of comforting a gunshot victim and notifying families of the tragic deaths.
In an emotional moment, a mother shared how the shooting has deeply affected her daughter’s mental and physical well-being. “She was angry that she couldn’t do anything for Mason [Schermerhorn] and Christian [Angulo], and she felt it was unfair that she was here and they weren’t,” recounted Jackelyn Garcia.
The courtroom proceedings are set to continue on Tuesday morning, as the community grapples with the aftermath of this traumatic event. The evidence presented thus far underscores the critical importance of recognizing and addressing warning signs of violence in youth.