Bodycam footage from a 2023 interview with police has been released, showing authorities questioning Colin Gray, the father of Apalachee High School shooting suspect Colt Gray, about a threat made by the boy.
In May 2023, authorities in Georgia released the bodycam footage of an interview with Jackson County Sheriff's deputies and the alleged Apalachee High School shooter, Colt Gray, and his father, Colin. The interview stemmed from an FBI tip about a threat on Discord, a popular messaging app among video gamers, to shoot up a middle school.
Police knocked on the door of the Gray residence and were greeted by a startled Colin Gray, who was in his underwear and a t-shirt. The officers explained that they were investigating a complaint and had gone to the Gray's old address first. Colin asked to get dressed before the interview started.
Father of Apalachee High School Shooting Suspect Warned of Threat in 2023 Interview
Colin then reappeared dressed in clothes and apologized for the delay. He explained that he was watching a golf tournament as he opened a drink. The police asked if he had a son, and Colin confirmed that he did.
As the officers continued to explain the reason for their visit and ask Colin about Colt, he warned that Colt would become flushed when questioned. Colin shared more about Gray's home life and the accusation, saying the visit was "bulls---" and a terrorist threat.
Father of Apalachee High School Shooting Suspect Warned of Threat in 2023 Interview
"He's going through a lot...very difficult for him to go to school and not get picked on," Colin explained. "[Colt's] gone through a lot."
Colin remained calm while explaining Colt's history to the officers and shared that he had had a rough time. He added that he and Colt's mom got divorced and that they had been evicted.
Father of Apalachee High School Shooting Suspect Warned of Threat in 2023 Interview
"He struggled at first with the separation. I've been taking him to school. He goes to Jefferson Middle school. He's been doing really good," Colin explained.
The officer acknowledged the severity of the visit, and Colin agreed, saying that Colt "knows how serious it is, trust me."
Father of Apalachee High School Shooting Suspect Warned of Threat in 2023 Interview
"[Colt] just wants us to have a simple life. All that like, he should be excited about getting into 8th grade. It just was very difficult for him to go to school and not get picked on by, you know, it went from one thing to another to, you know, he was talking to the couple friends he has," said Gray.
Colin claimed he had been up to the school multiple times and blamed other kids for touching his son. He also said that Colt wanted to move out of the school district.
Father of Apalachee High School Shooting Suspect Warned of Threat in 2023 Interview
Colin then claimed that Colt kept getting picked on and talked about the importance of gun safety. The officers asked Colin if he had any weapons in the house.
"I do," Colin said.
Father of Apalachee High School Shooting Suspect Warned of Threat in 2023 Interview
"Are they accessible," the officer then asked.
"They are…I mean there's nothing loaded, but they are…we do a lot of shooting, we do a lot of deer hunting. He shot his first deer this year," Colin said. "Like I'm pretty much in shock…I'm p---ed off to be honest with you."
"I'm a little taken back by the whole thing, but I can tell you this, I take that very serious and so does he, as a matter of fact," Colin says.
"I don't know anything about him saying s--- like that. And I'm going to be mad as hell if he did, and then all the guns will go away and they won't be accessible to him," Colin continues. "You know, I'm trying to be honest. I'm trying to teach him about firearms and safety and how to do it all and get him an interest in the outdoors."
"Get him away from the video game," the officer responds.
"Yeah. Exactly. Right. That's the best. The God honest truth is, the picture on my phone is him with blood on his cheeks when he shot his first deer. It's just the greatest day ever," Colin says. "So sure, he knows the seriousness of weapons and what they can do and how to use them and not use them."
"So it's kind of a little bit of a shock. So whatever y'all are telling him, please instill in him what if this is whatever or wherever some come from is no joke. No, like it's no joke," Colin continued.
"We wouldn't be here," the officer said.
Colt then joined the officers on the porch and answered the officers' questions, denying that he had made a threat to shoot up the school. The officer seemed to take Colt at his word.
Authorities identified Colt Gray, now 14, as the shooter who killed two students and two teachers at Apalachee High School in 2023. He is being tried as an adult.
Colt's father, Colin Gray, 54, has also been charged in connection with the school shooting. He faces four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children. Georgia holds parents criminally responsible on behalf of their children.
Authorities claimed that Colin knew and allowed his son Colt to have access to his firearms in the household ahead of the shooting.
