The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has released the mugshot of 14-year-old Colt Gray, who has been charged with four counts of murder after a deadly shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder. The image shows Gray with long, blond-dyed hair—a stark contrast to his middle school yearbook photo from two years ago, where he appeared as a smiling, baby-faced boy.
Gray was arrested on Wednesday shortly after authorities say he opened fire inside the school, killing two students and two teachers. He is being charged as an adult, according to officials.
The victims of the tragic rampage have been identified as students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, along with teachers Richard Aspenwall, 39, and Christina Irimie, 53. The incident marks the deadliest school shooting in Georgia’s history.
Gray’s arrest comes after an intense investigation revealed that the teenager had been obsessed with other infamous school shooters, particularly Nikolas Cruz, who was responsible for the 2018 Parkland, Florida, massacre. Following the bloodshed, investigators searched Gray’s home, uncovering materials that reportedly indicated his fascination with mass shootings.
Authorities were not unfamiliar with Gray before the shooting. In May 2023, the FBI and local officers from Jackson County questioned him and his father after receiving tips about a threatening message on a Discord channel, allegedly linked to Gray. The username on the channel reportedly referenced Adam Lanza, the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooter. However, Gray denied involvement at the time, claiming his Discord account had been hacked.
Despite these warning signs, Gray remained largely under the radar until Wednesday’s shooting. The attack occurred on his second full day at Apalachee High School, having only recently enrolled in Barrow County Schools.
Witnesses described a terrifying scene at the school. According to a fellow student, Lyela Sayerath, Gray left his algebra class shortly before the gunfire erupted, returning armed with a weapon. He attempted to re-enter the classroom, but when students refused to open the door, he allegedly began shooting into another room.
Chaos ensued as students scrambled for cover, piling on top of one another in desperation. Sayerath’s friend, who was in the classroom next door, witnessed a classmate being shot, leaving him shaken and bloodied.
Outside the school, parents frantically tried to reach their children. One mother, Erin Clark, shared a heart-wrenching exchange with her son, Ethan, who texted her in fear, saying, “school shooting rn. I’m scared. I’m not joking.”
Gray reportedly surrendered without resistance when confronted by school resource officers, who arrived at the scene within minutes. Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith confirmed that Gray immediately complied, lying down on the ground to be arrested.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, a makeshift memorial has sprung up outside the school, where heartbroken students and families have been gathering to pay their respects. Flowers and wreaths now mark the site of the senseless violence.
President Joe Biden released a statement addressing the tragedy, expressing grief over the nation’s continued struggle with gun violence. What should have been a joyous back-to-school season in Winder, Georgia, has now turned into another horrific reminder of how gun violence continues to tear our communities apart,” he said. The president also urged Congress to take decisive action on gun safety legislation, calling the epidemic of gun violence “unacceptable.”
Gray remains in juvenile custody as he awaits his first court appearance, scheduled for Friday. He faces a lengthy legal battle ahead as the community grapples with the devastation left in the wake of this tragic event.
