Father of US teen school shooter sentenced to 15 years for providing gun

A Georgia judge sentenced Colin Gray to 15 years in prison today for his role in the 2024 Apalachee High School shooting. Gray was found guilty of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter after providing an assault-style rifle to his then 14-year-old son, Colton.

The court proceedings in Winder, Georgia, focused on the specific actions of the father. Judge Nicholas Primm stated that while the sentence could not reflect the immense pain caused by the tragedy, the law required accountability for the negligence involved in gifting the weapon.

Prosecutors argued that Gray ignored clear warning signs, noting that his son had displayed images of previous mass shooters in his bedroom. Family members of the victims provided impact statements during the hearing, describing the incident as a preventable event that has permanently altered their lives.

This case stands out as one of the few instances where an American parent has faced criminal conviction for a child's actions in a school shooting. Gray's attorney had requested a shorter term, but the court ultimately delivered the 15-year sentence following his conviction in March.