Possible plea hearing date planned in Apalachee HS shooter Colt Gray's case

BARROW COUNTY, Ga. - Attorneys for a 14-year-old boy charged in the deadly shooting at Apalachee High School have asked a judge for more time ahead of a possible plea hearing later this year.

At a hearing on Tuesday, Colt Gray’s attorneys told the judge overseeing they needed the time to gather evidence and have the teen speak with a psychologist. 

The backstory:

Colt Gray is accused of opening fire using a "black semi-automatic AR-15 style rifle" inside the high school’s J hall during the second period of class on Sept. 4. Two teachers, 39-year-old Richard Aspinwall and 53-year-old Cristina Irimie, and two students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, were killed. Nine others were injured.

Investigators later found a notebook they say belonged to Gray that contained drawings eerily matching the events of the school shooting, as well as a checklist outlining steps the teen planned to take. They also reportedly found a "shrine of sorts" behind Gray's computer desk in his home, consisting of approximately 15 photographs and newspaper articles about past school shootings and school shooters.

Gray faces 55 charges, including four counts of murder, four counts of felony murder, four counts of aggravated battery, 25 counts of aggravated assault, and 18 counts of cruelty to children in the first degree.

What they're saying:

Gray's defense attorney asked the court for "some time in October" to discuss a potential non-negotiated plea. 

He said that he and other attorneys are still doing investigatory work and that a psychologist will be visiting the teen in mid-May.

"We should be good to go," the attorney said.

The judge agreed that the October timing would work well, adding that it would prevent possible interference with the trial of Colin Gray, the teen's father, which will begin in September.

What they're saying:

The family of Coach Richard Aspinwall, one of the four people killed during September's mass shooting at Apalachee High School, is split on what should happen next.

"I don't want him to have a deal," said his father, Richard Aspinwall Sr. "I don't want him negotiated—I want to see him in prison."

"For me, it's the right way to go—just get this over with and move on as best we all can," said his father-in-law, Kevin Zinke.

Aspinwall's family agrees they want Colt to be sentenced to life in prison without parole.

"If we don't set an example, it's going to continue on," Aspinwall Sr. said. "If we try to set an example—they're not going to get away with it—maybe it'll make other people think twice about trying to pull something."

For the Aspinwall family, convicting the father and son will bring justice, but there will still be a hole in their hearts.

"It's a struggle—you have two beautiful granddaughters that will never have the benefit of their father," Zinke said.

Dig deeper:

Gray’s attorneys have asked for any possible trial to be moved out of Bartow County, saying the pretrial publicity has saturated the community and will bias potential jurors. 

"The extensive publicity has biased the Barrow County jury pool against Gray. Removal of the case to another county would save Barrow County the money and time it would have spent trying to impanel an impartial jury from a biased jury pool," the motion read in part. "Removal of the case to another county would enhance Gray’s chance at securing a fair trial." 

While his attorneys told the court that both sides are "largely in agreement with the venue issue," they have not yet said what the agreement would be.

Dig deeper:

Meanwhile, a separate trial has been set for Colt’s father, Colin Gray. A judge scheduled his court date for Sept. 8. Prosecutors allege that the elder Gray allowed his son access to firearms despite being aware of the teen’s potential for violence.

In April, a judge ruled on a motion by Colin Gray's attorneys asking him to move his case out of the county. While Chief Judge Nicholas Primm ruled that local jurors will not be moved, it has not been determined if jurors from another Georgia county will be used or if the case will be tried hundreds of miles away.

SEE ALSO:

• Colin Gray: Trial date set for father of accused Apalachee High School shooter
• Georgia school safety bill signed into law after deadly Apalachee High School shooting
• Colin Gray trial likely to be moved to ensure 'bulletproof' prosecution
• Judge: Local jury 'risky' for accused Apalachee shooter's father's trial
• Colt Gray seeks venue change for Apalachee High School shooting trial

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