Janice R. Andrews
Four people were killed and nine were hurt in a shooting at Apalachee High School on Wednesday. The small town of Winder, Georgia, is still in shock. One question that hasn’t been answered is how the accused shooter, 14-year-old Colt Gray, got the AR-style gun he used in the attack. The tragedy has brought up old arguments about gun rights, parental duty, and the scary rise in mass killings involving children.
On Friday, Colt Gray and his dad, Colin Gray, went to court. Colt is being charged with many things, including murder. His father, Colin, is being charged with manslaughter and second-degree murder. Law enforcement says Colin was very important in helping Colt get the gun he used in the attack, but it’s still not clear how Colt got the gun. The case makes me very worried about what parents should do to stop these kinds of tragedies.
Colin Gray’s Part
Finding out how much Colin Gray had to do with Colt getting the gun is an important part of the current investigation. The police say that Colin “knowingly allowed his son” to have access to a gun. Colin could spend up to 180 years in jail if he is found guilty. If he is found guilty, he would be the third parent in the U.S. to be found guilty in connection with their child’s school killing.
Jennifer and James Crumbley were found guilty in April 2023 of killing four students at Oxford High School in Michigan. Their son, Ethan Crumbley, did it. The Crumbleys got at least 10 years in jail for killing someone without meaning to. It could set a new standard for parental responsibility in mass killings if Colin is found guilty.
The gun is an AR-style rifle.
Officials said at a press meeting on Wednesday that the gun used in the shooting was an AR-style platform rifle. In the U.S., these small, light semiautomatic weapons are very popular. They have been used in many mass shootings, including the one at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, in 2022. Even though AR-style weapons are usually thought of as sporting guns, they can do a lot of damage because they can fire quickly.
The Firearm Industry Trade Association says that AR-style firearms are sporting guns that are meant to be used for hunting and shooting at targets. But their rapid feature, which lets them reload themselves after each shot, has made them the weapon of choice in a lot of high-profile killings. AR-style weapons are still allowed in most U.S. states, even though there is a national debate going on about how to limit access to these guns.
The laws in Georgia about guns
The study is made even more difficult by Georgia’s gun rules. According to Georgia law, children are not allowed to own pistols. However, there is no minimum age to own a rifle, shotgun, or AR-style weapon. Federal law says that people over the age of 18 are the only ones who can legally buy firearms, shotguns, and ammo. But there are no rules that say kids can’t have these guns if an adult gives them to them.
Because of this legal hole, people are wondering how Colt Gray, who was only 14, got his hands on the gun. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) says that Colt’s dad, Colin, may have made it easier for his son to get the gun, but they are still looking into the specifics.
There is a troubling history
This is not the first time that police have looked into Colt Gray and his dad. In May 2023, police were told that Colt had been making internet threats to shoot up a middle school in Jackson County, Georgia, but they didn’t say which school. During the investigation, Colin Gray told the police that Colt did not have “unfettered access” to his shooting weapons and that they were being closely watched.
But those promises now tragically don’t seem to be enough. The charges against Colin show that, despite what he said, he may have let Colt get to the dangerous weapon. It’s still not clear if the gun was given to Colt directly or if he found another way to get it. However, the Grays’ past contacts with police are still being looked into.
What Survivors Say About Their Lives
Four people died in the shooting, and nine others were hurt. Their stories give us hope in the middle of the tragedy. The GBI says that eight children and one teacher were hurt. Six of the people who were hurt were shot, and the others were hurt in other ways. Even though some patients are still in the hospital, everyone is expected to fully recover.
David Phenix, a teacher and golf coach, was shot twice but lived through the attack. David had two surgeries and is now stable, according to his wife, Leesa Wells Phenix. Leesa wrote on social media that her husband was getting better and gave a lot of information: “He was shot twice, but neither shot hit any organs, veins, or arteries.” The bone in his upper hip was broken, but the surgeon put it back together. He was shot in the foot right through, but there were no bones or muscles there. The best possible outcome!”
David and his fellow teacher Richard Aspinwall ran to a close classroom when they heard gunshots. Sadly, Aspinwall did not make it through his injuries.
Reaction of the Community
People in Winder, Georgia, who live in close quarters are having a hard time understanding what happened at Apalachee High School. “A Light in the Dark,” the name of the gathering, is set for Friday night to remember the dead. The city wrote on social media about the event, “This event will honor the lives of those who died and help the families who were affected by their deaths with a memorial service.”
The investigation will keep focusing on finding answers to the most important questions, like how Colt Gray got the gun and what role his father played. People in the area, the victims, and their families are still dealing with the effects of yet another terrible school killing.
As people across the country remember the deaths in yet another senseless act of violence, the court case that Colt and Colin Gray will soon be in will likely bring up the issue of parental duty when it comes to gun ownership. The case could change how the justice system deals with these terrible crimes, with families and lawmakers alike calling for stricter rules to stop future deaths.
