The family of Georgia school shooting suspect Colt Gray is “not white trash” and are just “regular people,” a relative of the teen’s mother said Friday amid reports that the boy was raised in a broken home.
The perception that Gray, 14, comes from a low-income, uneducated family is simply not true, a maternal relative told The Post.
In fact, most of the relatives of the teen’s troubled mother are middle class with college degrees and good-paying jobs, the family member said.
“We are not white trash. That’s what everyone is saying about us, but we’re not. We are just regular people,” the relative, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Post.
Colt Gray allegedly gunned down two classmates and two teachers at Apalachee High School on Wednesday morning. He’s been charged with four counts of murder.
Since the massacre, a distressing picture has emerged of Gray’s home life.
A former neighbor and landlord of the Grays told The Post the teenager came from a neglectful home that, according to police, was frequently visited by the state’s child protective services agency.
The alleged school shooter’s mother, Marcee Gray, who has a lengthy rap sheet with drug and domestic violence busts, is a bit of a black sheep on her side of the family, the relative explained.
Unlike the rest of her kin, she got into the wrong crowd, dated some bad guys and often got into trouble, the family member said.
Lauren Vickers, who lived next door to the Grays in Jefferson, Ga., told The Post the children were always wearing dirty clothes and sometimes were hungry.
“It was constant abuse,” she said.
Marcee has a college degree herself and was described as “both book smart and street smart” — but is known for her hot temper, the relative said.
The family member, along with Marcee’s former landlord, said the teen’s mother has struggled with drug and alcohol addiction.
Despite family interventions, nothing has seemed to work and Marcee has been estranged from the rest of her family for some time, by her own choice, according to her relative.
And Marcee’s family is not particularly fond of her husband, Colin Gray — who has also been charged with murder in connection to the shooting. The relative said the father can’t hold down a job and has not “been a good example for his son.”
Colin Gray, 54, was arrested on Thursday after it was revealed that he bought his son the AR-15-style rifle used in the shooting as a Christmas gift in December.
He’s charged with four counts of manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder and eight counts of cruelty to children.
Both father and son made their initial court appearances on Friday and learned they could each spend the rest of their lives behind bars.
Colt’s family wants the teen to go through intensive therapy, take the medication they believe he needs. Ultimately, they’d like to see him charged as a juvenile, rehabilitated and have a shot at somewhat of a normal future, according to the relative.
The family is currently working on finding Colt the best legal representation available to them.
The relative added that they’re sympathetic to the families of the deceased, but they maintain that Colt is also a victim in this tragedy.
