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BARROW COUNTY, Ga. - Testimony is set to resume Friday morning in the trial of Colin Gray, the father charged in connection with the 2024 mass shooting at Apalachee High School.
Colin Gray trial
What we know:
Gray faces 29 felony counts, including second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter, after his son allegedly opened fire inside the school, killing four people and injuring nine others.
Prosecutors allege Gray purchased the murder weapon—a SIG Sauer M400 rifle—as a Christmas gift in 2023, despite his son Colt's troubled history. That history reportedly included drawing Nazi symbols and searching online for phrases like "How to kill your dad?" The state argues Gray is criminally responsible because he provided his son access to the rifle despite knowing of severe "behavioral red flags" and a potential for violence.
Gray's defense attorneys maintain he could not have foreseen the tragedy and that the legal responsibility lies solely with the shooter.
Search of Gray home
What they're saying:
The morning began with testimony from GBI Special Agent Heather Lashley, who was tasked with processing the Gray residence on the day of the shooting. Lashley’s testimony provided the jury with a first-hand look at the household through crime scene photographs.
Among the evidence discovered in the home were:
- Tactical gear and weapons: Investigators found tactical-style vests, multiple rifles, and boxes of ammunition.
- Unopened safety equipment: Photographs showed gun locks in the home that appeared to be unopened and unused.
- A "Shrine" to Violence: Lashley testified to finding a wall in Colt Gray's bedroom dedicated to Nikolas Cruz, the perpetrator of the 2018 Parkland, Florida, school shooting.
Lashley noted the presence of multiple calibers of ammunition and a shotgun, though she could not confirm if the specific rifle found atop a closet matched the calibers used at the high school.
Colt Gray's grandmother testifies
What they're saying:
Following a brief recess, the prosecution called Deborah Polhamus, Colt Gray’s grandmother, to testify. Polhamus had previously been identified in court documents as someone who had raised concerns about her grandson’s mental health and homicidal thoughts in the weeks leading up to the shooting.
Her testimony is expected to highlight the family’s awareness of the 14-year-old’s struggles and a missed therapy session that was scheduled shortly before the attack.
Colt Gray trial
What's next:
Colt Gray, 16, is being tried separately as an adult and faces 55 counts, including malice murder. He is currently undergoing a mental health evaluation before his trial date is finalized.
The Source: Information in this article came from multiple crews attending the trial throughout the first week.