Authorities Spoke To Georgia Shooting Suspect Long Before Deadly Attack

A 14-year-old boy charged with murder after a deadly school shooting in Georgia had been previously interviewed by authorities, according to recent reports.

At a Glance

Four people were killed and nine were injured in a shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia.
Suspect Colt Gray, 14, was interviewed by police last year about online threats.
Victims include two 14-year-old students and two teachers.
The suspect will be tried as an adult on murder charges.
An AR-platform-style weapon was used in the attack.

Tragedy Strikes Georgia High School

On September 4, 2024, the community of Winder, Georgia, was shattered by a devastating act of violence at Apalachee High School. A 14-year-old student, identified as Colt Gray, allegedly opened fire, killing four people and injuring nine others. The incident, which began around 10:20 AM local time, has been described as the deadliest episode of school violence in Georgia’s history.

The victims have been identified as 14-year-old students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, along with teachers Richard Aspinwall and Christina Irimie. Among the injured was teacher and coach David Phenix, who is in stable condition after surgery. The community is grappling with the loss, and a candlelight vigil was held in Winder’s Jug Tavern Park to honor the victims.

Swift Response and Arrest

Law enforcement responded quickly to the scene, arriving within minutes of the initial alert. The suspect surrendered to school resource officers and was taken into custody. Local sheriff Jud Smith didn’t mince words when describing the attack, calling it “pure evil.” The school was immediately placed on lockdown, and students were evacuated to a nearby football stadium before being reunited with their families.

“Those that are deceased are heroes in my book,” said Chris Hosey, director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. “Those that are in the hospital recovering right now are heroes in my book.”

Authorities have not yet disclosed a motive or specific targets for the shooting. The type of weapon used was described as an “AR-platform style weapon,” though the number of bullets fired remains undisclosed.

Previous Police Interview Raises Questions

In a startling revelation, it has come to light that local authorities had interviewed Colt Gray last year after receiving tips from the FBI about online threats. However, no arrest was made at that time due to an inability to confirm whether Gray had made the threats.

The suspect’s father, Colin Gray had reportedly told investigators that his son did not have unsupervised access to weapons, but now he has been arrested for his alleged role in the incident. Colin Gray was hit with a number of charges, the most severe being second degree murder, after it was revealed that he allegedly allowed his son to have the weapon used in the attack.

National Response and Call for Action

The tragedy has drawn responses from national leaders, including President Joe Biden, who called it “another horrific reminder of how gun violence continues to tear our communities apart.” Both Biden and Vice President Harris have used this incident to renew calls for stricter gun safety legislation.

“Jill and I are mourning the deaths of those whose lives were cut short due to more senseless gun violence and thinking of all of the survivors whose lives are forever changed,” Biden said in a statement. “Students across the country are learning how to duck and cover instead of how to read and write. We cannot continue to accept this as normal.”

As the investigation unfolds, authorities have stated that it will take days to gather all the answers about this tragic incident. The suspect is cooperating with investigators, but many questions remain unanswered. The community of Winder, with a population of about 18,000, now faces the difficult task of healing and rebuilding in the wake of this senseless act of violence.