The father of a teenager accused of a deadly high school shooting in Georgia was aware that his son was obsessed with school shooters and had a shrine above his home computer for the gunman in the 2018 Parkland, Florida massacre, prosecutors revealed at a court hearing.
Colin Gray gave his son, Colt, the assault-style weapon used in the shooting as a Christmas gift and knew about his son’s deteriorating mental health leading up to the incident, according to investigators.
Colt Gray, 14, faces four counts of murder for killing two fellow students and two teachers at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia on September 4. Due to his age, the maximum penalty he could receive is life without parole.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Agent Kelsey Ward testified that Colin Gray had questioned his son about the people in pictures on his wall, one of whom Colt identified as Nikolas Cruz, the Parkland school shooter.
Investigators also found a notebook left behind by Colt at the school, detailing plans for the shooting with estimated casualties in different areas of the school.
Colin Gray has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and second-degree murder for providing the firearm to his son despite knowing the potential threat he posed.
Colt’s parents had discussed his fascination with school shooters but dismissed it as a joke, Ward testified.
The judge ruled that prosecutors have sufficient evidence to proceed with the case against Colin Gray, which will now move to Superior Court.
The case comes after the conviction of Michigan parents in a mass school shooting for not securing a firearm at home and ignoring signs of their son’s deteriorating mental health before the incident.
Colt Gray denied making threats of a school shooting during previous interviews with authorities, according to a sheriff’s report.
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