{"id":21675,"date":"2026-02-17T13:34:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T18:34:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/father-on-trial-as-georgia-school-shooting-survivors-share-traumatic-testimony\/"},"modified":"2026-02-17T13:34:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T18:34:11","slug":"father-on-trial-as-georgia-school-shooting-survivors-share-traumatic-testimony","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/father-on-trial-as-georgia-school-shooting-survivors-share-traumatic-testimony\/","title":{"rendered":"Father on Trial as Georgia School Shooting Survivors Share Traumatic Testimony"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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ATLANTA \u2014 Survivors of a devastating Georgia school shooting broke down in tears Tuesday as they described the terrifying moments when bullets began flying in their classroom two years ago.<\/p>

The emotional testimony came during the criminal trial of Colin Gray, whose son Colt Gray is accused of orchestrating the deadly September 4, 2024 attack at a high school northeast of Atlanta. The shooting claimed the lives of four people – two educators and two students – while injuring several others.<\/p>

One ninth-grader described the moment she discovered a bullet wound in her wrist during the chaos in her Algebra I classroom.<\/p>

“I was also worried that I was going to die and how that would affect my parents because my dad has a heart problem,” the student testified.<\/p>

As emergency responders evacuated her from the building, she encountered the suspected shooter restrained on the ground and confronted him directly.<\/p>

“I remember yelling at him that we were kids, because we were kids,” she said during testimony where her face was not shown due to her age.<\/p>

The case represents part of a growing national trend where prosecutors seek to hold parents accountable when their children carry out mass shootings.<\/p>

Colt Gray, just 14 when the attack occurred, is facing 29 criminal charges including second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, and multiple counts of cruelty to children.<\/p>

District Attorney Brad Smith argued in opening statements Monday that Colin Gray bears responsibility for giving his son access to deadly weapons after receiving clear warnings about potential violence.<\/p>

“This case is about this defendant and his actions in allowing a child that he has custody over access to a firearm and ammunition after being warned that that child was going to harm others,” Smith told jurors.<\/p>

Defense attorney Brian Hobbs countered that the father couldn’t have prevented what his son deliberately concealed from him.<\/p>

“That’s the difference between tragedy and criminal liability,” Hobbs argued. “You cannot hold someone criminally responsible for failing to predict what was intentionally hidden from them.”<\/p>

Investigators revealed that Colt Gray transported a semi-automatic rifle to school hidden in his backpack, with the barrel protruding and concealed by poster board. After leaving his second-period class, he retrieved the weapon from a restroom and opened fire in classrooms and corridors.<\/p>

The prosecution outlined a disturbing pattern of warning signs that preceded the attack. In September 2021, school officials discovered Colt had searched “how to kill your dad” on a school computer, though authorities later dismissed it as a misunderstanding.<\/p>

More significantly, 16 months before the shooting in May 2023, federal authorities contacted the family after tracing online threats against an elementary school to their home computer. When questioned about his son’s gun access, Colin Gray assured investigators that they “take this school shooting stuff very seriously.”<\/p>

Despite these red flags, Colin Gray purchased the rifle as a Christmas gift for his son that year and continued buying accessories and large quantities of ammunition afterward.<\/p>

Prosecutors revealed that Colin Gray was aware of his son’s disturbing obsession with previous school shooters, including maintaining what they described as a shrine to the Parkland, Florida gunman in his bedroom.<\/p>

Perhaps most chilling was a text message Colin Gray received from his son just three weeks before the attack: “Whenever something happens, just know the blood is on your hands.”<\/p>

Court testimony also revealed that Colin Gray recognized his son’s declining mental health and had reached out to counseling services weeks before the shooting.<\/p>

“We have had a very difficult past couple of years and he needs help. Anger, anxiety, quick to be volatile. I don’t know what to do,” Colin Gray wrote about his son’s condition.<\/p>

However, prosecutors argue that despite expressing these concerns, Colin Gray failed to follow through on getting his son admitted to an inpatient mental health facility.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

High school students testified about the terror they experienced during a deadly 2024 Georgia school shooting. The father of the accused shooter is now facing charges for allegedly providing the weapon despite warning signs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":21674,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[831],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21675","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-us-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771353250973.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-5DB","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":28818,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/father-takes-stand-in-georgia-school-shooting-trial-says-gun-was-christmas-gift\/","url_meta":{"origin":21675,"position":0},"title":"Father Takes Stand in Georgia School Shooting Trial, Says Gun Was Christmas Gift","author":"Admin","date":"February 27, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Colin Gray testified that he gave his 14-year-old son the rifle used in a deadly Georgia school shooting as a Christmas present to encourage bonding and good grades. The father faces murder charges in connection with the September 2024 attack at Apalachee High School that killed four people.","rel":"","context":"In "U.S. News"","block_context":{"text":"U.S. News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/us-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1772209922698.jpg?fit=998%2C555&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1772209922698.jpg?fit=998%2C555&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1772209922698.jpg?fit=998%2C555&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1772209922698.jpg?fit=998%2C555&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":20743,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/father-of-georgia-school-shooter-faces-murder-charges-in-historic-parental-responsibility-case\/","url_meta":{"origin":21675,"position":1},"title":"Father of Georgia School Shooter Faces Murder Charges in Historic Parental Responsibility Case","author":"Admin","date":"February 16, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Colin Gray will face opening statements Monday on charges including second-degree murder for allegedly providing his teenage son with the weapon used in a deadly Georgia school shooting. The case represents a growing trend of prosecutors holding parents accountable when their children commit mass violence. Gray's son killed four people\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "U.S. News"","block_context":{"text":"U.S. News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/us-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771250552643.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771250552643.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771250552643.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771250552643.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":25742,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/mom-warned-father-to-secure-weapons-before-georgia-school-shooting-court-hears\/","url_meta":{"origin":21675,"position":2},"title":"Mom Warned Father to Secure Weapons Before Georgia School Shooting, Court Hears","author":"Admin","date":"February 23, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The mother of accused Georgia school shooter Colt Gray testified that she warned the boy's father to lock away firearms before the deadly Apalachee High School attack. Marcee Gray told jurors she urged Colin Gray to secure the guns in his truck, but her warnings went unheeded in the case\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "U.S. News"","block_context":{"text":"U.S. News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/us-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771871610794.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771871610794.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771871610794.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771871610794.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":31098,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/georgia-father-found-guilty-in-sons-school-shooting-case\/","url_meta":{"origin":21675,"position":3},"title":"Georgia Father Found Guilty in Son’s School Shooting Case","author":"Admin","date":"March 3, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"A Georgia man has been convicted on 27 charges including second-degree murder after his teenage son used a rifle he gave him to kill four people at a high school. The rare case holds a parent criminally responsible for their child's actions in a mass shooting.","rel":"","context":"In "U.S. News"","block_context":{"text":"U.S. News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/us-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1772560115592.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":31047,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/father-of-georgia-school-shooter-found-guilty-of-murder-manslaughter\/","url_meta":{"origin":21675,"position":4},"title":"Father of Georgia School Shooter Found Guilty of Murder, Manslaughter","author":"Admin","date":"March 3, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"A Georgia jury convicted Colin Gray of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter for his role in his teenage son's deadly school shooting. Prosecutors said Gray gave his 14-year-old son access to weapons despite knowing the boy's mental health issues and obsession with school shooters.","rel":"","context":"In "U.S. News"","block_context":{"text":"U.S. News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/us-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1772555618894.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1772555618894.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1772555618894.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1772555618894.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":30530,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/georgia-fathers-murder-trial-in-school-shooting-case-goes-to-jury\/","url_meta":{"origin":21675,"position":5},"title":"Georgia Father’s Murder Trial in School Shooting Case Goes to Jury","author":"Admin","date":"March 2, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"A Georgia jury is deliberating murder charges against Colin Gray, whose 14-year-old son allegedly used a rifle given as a Christmas gift to kill four people at Apalachee High School. The case represents a rare prosecution holding a parent criminally responsible for their child's school shooting.","rel":"","context":"In "U.S. News"","block_context":{"text":"U.S. News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/us-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1772493495313.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21675","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21675"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21675\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21674"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21675"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21675"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21675"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}