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A 16-year-old suspect has pleaded guilty to 55 charges, including murder, for a 2024 school shooting in the US state of Georgia. Colt Gray entered the plea for the attack at Apalachee High School, which killed two students and two teachers.

The plea came months after his father, Colin Gray, was convicted on charges of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. The older Gray was not present during the September 4, 2024, attack but had given his then-14-year-old son the assault-style rifle used in the shooting.

Coverage comparison

Al Jazeera reported that Colt Gray pleaded guilty to all charges, while The Guardian, citing court records, had earlier reported that he was expected to change his plea at a hearing on 24 July. The Guardian noted that the judge assigned a "non-negotiated plea and sentencing hearing" beginning on that date, meaning prosecutors and the defense had not agreed on a sentence, leaving the decision entirely to the judge.

Both outlets reported that the shooting occurred at Apalachee High School in 2024, killing two students and two teachers. The victims were identified by Al Jazeera as Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, as well as 39-year-old teacher Richard Aspinwall and 53-year-old teacher Cristina Irimie. Another teacher and eight students were also wounded.

Colin Gray's conviction was covered by both sources. The Guardian noted that his prosecution marked the third instance in which a parent faced criminal charges tied to a mass shooting allegedly carried out by their child.

Key claims

  • Colt Gray pleaded guilty to 55 charges, including murder, for the 2024 school shooting in Georgia.
  • The shooting occurred at Apalachee High School, killing two students and two teachers.
  • The victims were Mason Schermerhorn, Christian Angulo, Richard Aspinwall, and Cristina Irimie.
  • Colin Gray, Colt's father, was convicted of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter.
  • Colin Gray had given his son the assault-style rifle used in the attack.
  • The judge assigned a "non-negotiated plea and sentencing hearing" beginning on 24 July, as reported by The Guardian.
  • The second-degree murder charges alone carry a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison, as reported by The Guardian.
Because Colt Gray pleaded guilty to murder, he faces a minimum sentence of life in prison, according to Al Jazeera. His trial had been set to begin in mid-October.

Before accepting the plea, Barrow County Superior Court Judge Nicholas Primm asked Gray a series of questions to ensure the teenager understood the consequences and was pleading voluntarily. To each question, Gray responded: "Yes, your honour."

Breanna Schermerhorn, whose son Mason was killed, told the judge she did not forgive the 16-year-old suspect. She said that adults in Colt's life had missed multiple warning signs, but she held him responsible for the decision to go through with the shooting. "Those decisions were his and his alone," she said. "Mason deserved a future, and we all deserved a future with Mason in [it]."