Investigators revealed Colt used an AR-15-style rifle within the assault, a firearm bought by his father as a Christmas reward. As per the report by the Publish, the rifle was given from father to son as a present simply seven months after authorities paid the pair a go to in Might when the FBI obtained recommendations on on-line college taking pictures threats.
No proof present in earlier menace investigation
The teenager was interviewed after the sheriff obtained a tip from the FBI that Grey, then 13, “had presumably threatened to shoot up a center college tomorrow.” The menace was made on Discord, a social media platform standard with video players, in response to the sheriff’s workplace incident report.
Regardless of previous investigations into threats made by Colt on-line, regulation enforcement had discovered no substantial proof to behave on the time.
Sheriff Janis Mangum defined the sooner investigation: “The case was labored completely final 12 months, however on the time, the proof wasn’t robust sufficient to confiscate their weapons.”
Colin had assured authorities that his son had no unsupervised entry to the household’s searching weapons, however that assurance has since confirmed tragically inadequate.
FBI tip and teenage’s denial: Key particulars emerged
The FBI’s tip pointed to a Discord account related to an electronic mail tackle linked to Colt Grey, the report mentioned. However the boy mentioned “he would by no means say such a factor, even in a joking method,” in response to the investigator’s report.
The interview transcript quotes the teenager as saying: “I promise I’d by no means say one thing the place …” with the remainder of that denial listed as inaudible.
“He is aware of the seriousness of weapons and what they will do, and easy methods to use them and never use them,” the daddy, Colin Grey, mentioned in response to a transcript obtained from the sheriff’s workplace.
Authorities are actually specializing in how Colt accessed the weapon and whether or not earlier warning indicators may have prevented the assault.
Violent assault with semiautomatic weapon
Authorities have now charged Colt as an grownup with homicide, accusing him of utilizing a semiautomatic rifle to kill 4 and injure 9 others. He had a historical past of struggling along with his mother or father’s separation and was typically bullied, his father instructed investigators final 12 months. Regardless of these points, the teenager regularly went searching along with his father, who described the “best day ever” when Colt shot his first deer.
Questions over missed warnings and entry to weapons
Colt and his father had been interviewed after the FBI tipped authorities concerning the teen presumably threatening to shoot up a faculty. The investigator’s report famous inconsistencies, together with the truth that the Discord account had been accessed in a number of areas, together with Buffalo, New York, and featured profile particulars written in Russian. Regardless of the regarding habits, no arrests had been made as a consequence of an absence of proof.
Colin Grey, Colt’s father, admitted that weapons had been accessible of their dwelling, however claimed they had been unloaded. Colt had been photographed with blood smeared on his cheeks from searching journeys, additional emphasizing the household’s publicity to firearms.
How the assault unfolded
The taking pictures started when Colt left his Algebra class and tried to re-enter, however a pupil noticed the gun and refused to let him in. He then turned to a close-by classroom and opened fireplace, firing 10 to fifteen rounds.
“I believe he needed to return to us first,” His classmate, Lyela Sayarath, mentioned, reported CNN.
The primary studies of an energetic shooter got here in at round 10:20 am (native time) College useful resource officers and regulation enforcement rapidly responded, and Colt was taken into custody after a quick confrontation.
“I heard gunshots exterior my classroom and other people screaming, folks begging to not get shot,” mentioned 14-year-old Macey Proper. “After which folks sitting beside me (had been) simply shaking and crying.”
The mass taking pictures at Apalachee Excessive College marks the thirtieth such incident within the US this 12 months.
The victims
The taking pictures claimed the lives of two 14-year-old college students, Christian Angulo and Mason Schermerhorn, in addition to two beloved lecturers, math instructor Christina Irimie and assistant soccer coach Richard Aspinwall.
“We’re really heartbroken,” Christian’s older sister, Lisette Angulo, shared on a GoFundMe web page to assist the household.
Apalachee Soccer additionally expressed their grief for Aspinwall: “To our beloved defensive coordinator Ricky Aspinwall, we’ll carry you heavy in our hearts.”
Teen accused of faculty taking pictures was interviewed final 12 months
Colt Grey, the 14-year-old accused of finishing up the lethal taking pictures at Apalachee Excessive College, had denied ever threatening a faculty assault when interviewed by authorities in 2023. Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum defended the investigation from final 12 months, saying, “We didn’t drop the ball in any respect on this. We did all we may do with what we had on the time.” The interview adopted an FBI tip a few menace made on Discord, however conflicting proof prevented an arrest.
College’s response
The college’s fast actions, paired with newly applied security protocols just like the Centegix alert system, doubtless prevented the tragedy from being even worse. “The protocols on this college and this technique activated at the moment prevented this from being a a lot bigger tragedy than what we had,” mentioned Georgia Bureau of Investigations Director Chris Hosey.
The mass taking pictures at Apalachee Excessive College marks the thirtieth such incident within the US this 12 months.
Previous threats and investigations
Colt had beforehand been investigated for threats made on-line in 2023, together with an ominous reference to Sandy Hook shooter Adam Lanza. Whereas each Colt and his father denied any intent to commit violence, the case was closed as a consequence of inadequate proof.
“The 13-year-old denied making the threats on-line,” Sheriff Mangum mentioned in a Fb put up. Nevertheless, the latest tragedy has reopened scrutiny into whether or not sufficient was performed on the time.
Subsequent steps
Colt Grey, at the moment in custody, is being held with out bond and shall be tried as an grownup on costs of felony homicide. His first court docket look is about for Friday, and investigators are piecing collectively how the gun was introduced to high school and if anybody else was concerned in planning the assault.
Because the Apalachee Excessive College group grapples with the shock of the incident, college students like Macey categorical their fears about returning to high school. “I actually don’t need to return. I really feel like I shouldn’t have to return to high school worrying about dying.”
