The tragedy surrounding the school shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia has taken a dark turn as Colt Gray, the 14-year-old alleged shooter, and his father, Colin Gray, face the fallout from the massacre. The incident, which left four people dead—including two students and two teachers—has rattled the community, and the revelations about Colt’s troubled home life have only deepened the sense of loss.
Colin Gray, the father of the accused, is facing his own day in court. Charged with four counts of manslaughter and two counts of second-degree murder, Colin’s role in the tragedy is now under intense scrutiny. It’s alleged that he provided his son with the AR-15-style rifle used in the attack—a decision that has sparked outrage among those who knew the family. The boy’s grandfather, Charles Polhamus, didn’t hold back in his condemnation, telling the *New York Post* that Colin was directly responsible for turning his son into a killer. In a heartbreaking statement, Polhamus declared, “He needs the death penalty.”
As more details emerge, it’s clear that Colt Gray’s actions were shaped by a toxic home environment. According to Polhamus, the boy had been subjected to years of abuse by his father, who was described as a “screamer and hollerer.”
The strain of living under such conditions, compounded by exposure to violent content online, seemed to have pushed Colt over the edge. Polhamus painted a picture of a once-promising child who had been driven to despair. “Colt has to pay for what he did, but I’m telling you, he was driven,” Polhamus said, visibly anguished by the situation.
It’s not just the father’s abusive behavior that has come to light. Colt’s family was aware of his deteriorating mental state well before the shooting. His mother, Marcee Gray, had pleaded with school officials and family members about her son’s disturbing behavior, even warning them about an “extreme emergency” on the day of the shooting.
She tried to intervene, calling the school counselor minutes before the attack began, but her efforts were tragically too late. Colt’s mental health had been a growing concern, with reports of him experiencing homicidal and suicidal thoughts, but according to Marcee’s family, he was denied the help he desperately needed.
The aftermath of the shooting has left a trail of grief and unanswered questions. Fourteen-year-old victims Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo were among those who lost their lives, along with beloved teachers Richard Aspinwall and Christina Irimie. Survivors of the attack, including students like Bri Jones, recounted the terrifying moments when Gray returned to the classroom armed with a rifle. Jones, narrowly avoiding opening the door for Gray, watched in horror as the shooter turned his gun on the classroom next door, killing teacher Aspinwall in front of his students.
The community is reeling from the deadliest school shooting in Georgia’s history, and the focus has now shifted to the systemic failures that allowed the tragedy to unfold. Questions about mental health support, gun access, and parental responsibility are at the forefront of the public conversation. Colt Gray, who is being tried as an adult, faces the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison, while his father, Colin, faces charges that could also see him imprisoned for years.
For Polhamus, the pain is twofold—he has lost a grandson to violence, and he places much of the blame on his former son-in-law, whose alleged neglect and abusive tendencies may have pushed Colt to commit this unspeakable act. “He pulled the triggers,” Polhamus said of his grandson, “and it breaks my damn heart.”
As the legal proceedings move forward, the victims’ families and the greater community are left to grapple with the haunting reality of what happened and the lasting impact it will have on all their lives.
