A 13-year-old boy who is now charged with killing four people at Apalachee High School in Georgia had been investigated in 2023 after the FBI received a tip about a threat on the messaging app Discord. The boy, Colt Gray, denied making the threat and his father said he had no access to firearms.
In a May 21, 2023 investigation report, Jackson County, Georgia, officers detailed their interactions with Colt Gray, the suspect in the shooting at Apalachee High School. The report revealed that the FBI had tipped off local authorities about a threat on Discord, a popular messaging app used by video gamers.
Apalachee High School Shooting Suspect Had Previous Threat Investigation
Gray, then 13 years old, was questioned by officers and denied making the threat, even as a joke. His father, Colin Gray, assured officers that he kept his hunting rifles locked away and that his son did not have access to them.
However, authorities have since confirmed that the shooting at Apalachee High School was carried out with an AR-style rifle.
Apalachee High School Shooting Suspect Had Previous Threat Investigation
Investigator Daniel Miller Jr. urged Colin Gray to keep his firearms securely locked and advised him to keep Colt out of school until the threat could be resolved.
The Jackson County investigators were unable to substantiate the Discord threat, which came from a user profile spelling Lanza in Russian. Adam Lanza was the perpetrator of the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting in 2012.
Apalachee High School Shooting Suspect Had Previous Threat Investigation
The investigation revealed that the information sent to the FBI was communicated through various IP addresses located worldwide, including Palmdale, California; Los Angeles; and Cockburn, Australia. The investigating officer found inconsistencies in the information, leading to the conclusion that the allegation against Colt Gray or his father could not be substantiated.
The FBI clarified on Thursday that it did not directly investigate the suspect behind the Georgia high school shooting but shared the anonymous tip with local law enforcement.
Apalachee High School Shooting Suspect Had Previous Threat Investigation
The 2023 report described Colt Gray as "quit, calm, and reserved" during the interview with authorities. Colin Gray expressed concerns about his son's previous problems at West Jackson Middle School, but noted his improvement after transferring to Jefferson Middle School.
An FBI source explained that it is protocol to inform local law enforcement and provide information for investigation when anonymous tips are received, especially when there is no immediate threat to life.
Apalachee High School Shooting Suspect Had Previous Threat Investigation
A spokesperson for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation stated that the suspect's parents have been cooperative in the ongoing investigation following Wednesday's attack, which left four dead and nine others injured.
Colt Gray has been charged with four counts of felony murder and booked into the Gainesville Regional Youth Detention Center.
Law enforcement experts are focusing on the suspect's past and motive at this early stage of the investigation. They are examining the timeline of events, his interactions with the victims, and any indications of past violent behavior or concerning social media posts.
Investigators are also combing the scene of the shooting to reconstruct the suspect's pathway through the school and gather all possible evidence.
This tragic incident has raised questions about the availability of firearms to minors and the responsibilities of parents in preventing school shootings. As the investigation continues, authorities are determined to uncover the circumstances leading to this senseless loss of life.
