Colin Gray, 55, was sentenced on Thursday, July 30, 2026, to 15 years in prison for murder, manslaughter, and other charges related to the September 4, 2024, shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia. The attack, which occurred approximately 70 kilometers northeast of Atlanta, resulted in the deaths of two students, Christian Angulo and Mason Schermerhorn, both aged 14, and two teachers, Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53.

Gray was found guilty earlier this year in March on charges stemming from the attack. His son, 16-year-old Colt Gray, pleaded guilty last week to the murders and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Investigators revealed that the rifle used in the shooting was a gift from Colin Gray to his son.

During sentencing, Judge Nicholas Primm, who also sentenced Colt Gray, remarked on the difficulty of the task, stating, “I have the nearly impossible task of sentencing you without passion despite the immeasurable heartache that you caused.” Primm noted that Colin Gray’s crimes were negligence-related and connected to the tragedy committed by his son.

Prosecutors argued that Colin Gray was "the one person who could have prevented" the shooting. Barrow County Assistant District Attorney Patricia Brooks told jurors that despite numerous warning signs about his son's deteriorating mental state and violent tendencies, Gray provided the firearm, effectively giving him "the detonator."

A defense lawyer for Colin Gray requested a sentence of 10 years in prison followed by 10 years on probation, while the district attorney sought an 80-year sentence.

Colin Gray is among a small number of American parents criminally charged after their children were involved in shootings. The case draws parallels to an April 2024 incident where Michigan parents were sentenced for their role in a similar tragedy.

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