Georgia teen set to change plea to guilty in Apalachee High School shooting case
The 16-year-old suspect in the September 2024 Apalachee High School shooting will appear in court on July 24 for a non-negotiated plea and sentencing hearing, indicating a change from his earlier not-guilty plea.
A 16-year-old who opened fire at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on Sept. 4, 2024, is scheduled for a non-negotiated plea and sentencing hearing on July 24, according to court documents. The teenager, Colt Gray, previously entered a not-guilty plea and faces 55 counts, including felony murder, malice murder and aggravated assault for the deaths of two students and two teachers.
"The change-of-plea hearing is set for July 24," the court filing states.
Gray’s trial had been tentatively slated for October. Prosecutors have highlighted that his father, Colin Gray, was convicted in March of murder and manslaughter for providing the firearm used in the attack. The elder Gray is also awaiting sentencing later this month.
Investigators say the shooter, then 14, entered the school with an assault-style rifle concealed in his backpack, made concerning remarks to staff and parents, and fired from a hallway after preparing the weapon in a bathroom. He surrendered after officers confronted him. The victims were teachers Richard Aspinwall and Cristina Irimie and students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo.
The case has drawn attention to the family’s history of involvement with child-welfare services, the teen’s documented mental-health challenges, and the presence of a photo montage of the Parkland shooter found in his room. Gray’s attorney and the Barrow County District Attorney’s Office have not responded to requests for comment.