Jury reaches verdict in Georgia school shooter's father's trial

A jury has reached a verdict in the murder and manslaughter trial of Colin Gray, whose son used an AR-15-style rifle in a September 2024 school shooting; the verdict will be read in court shortly.

A jury has reached a verdict in the trial of Colin Gray, the father of a teenager who carried out a school shooting in Georgia. Prosecutors say Gray bought his son an AR-15-style rifle and allowed him access despite warnings about the son's dangerousness. The weapon was used in a September 2024 incident at Apalachee High School that officials reported killed four people and wounded others. The verdict will be read in court shortly. Key facts: - Prosecutors allege Colin Gray purchased an AR-15-style rifle for his son and consciously disregarded warnings about the son's risk to others. - The September 2024 incident at Apalachee High School was reported to have killed two teachers and two students and to have wounded nine others. - Colin Gray pleaded not guilty to more than 25 charges, including counts of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter; the jury could return verdicts on lesser charges. - The jury has reached a verdict in the case and the reading of that verdict in court is the next immediate step; the son, now 16, has admitted to the shooting but his separate criminal case has no trial date set. Summary: Officials describe the case as testing whether a parent can be held criminally responsible for enabling a school shooting, and it has been discussed alongside similar prosecutions of parents in other school shootings. The immediate next procedural step is the public reading of the jury's verdict in court; further timing for the younger defendant's trial remains undetermined at this time.