Mother of Apalachee Shooter Testifies She Urged Father to Lock Up Guns Before 2024 School Massacre
Feb. 23, 2026 — Winder, Ga. Marcee Gray, estranged wife of Colin Gray and mother of Apalachee High School shooter Colt Gray, testified on Day 6 of her husband’s trial that she urged him to secure firearms amid their son’s mental health struggles, but he refused. Colin Gray faces 29 charges, including second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter, for allegedly gifting Colt a Sig Sauer M400 AR-style rifle as a Christmas present in 2023 and leaving it accessible in the teen’s bedroom despite warning signs.
The September 4, 2024, shooting at the Barrow County school killed teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, and students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, while wounding nine others.
Marcee Gray’s Testimony
Testifying in Barrow County Superior Court, Marcee Gray described Colt’s alarming behavior after he briefly lived with her in 2023, including damaging TVs, breaking windows, carving walls with knives, and unpredictable aggression.
“Colt’s behavior was alarming… He had a lot of anger inside. He was very aggressive and unpredictable.”
She said Colt had panic attacks, searched school computers for “how to kill my dad” in 2021, and showed interest in Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz, which she likened to her own true crime fascination. Gray scheduled counseling that Colt skipped and planned inpatient treatment days before the shooting, but custody issues prevented it.
On guns, she testified:
“They need to be locked somewhere.”
Colin initially agreed but did not follow through, and there was no gun safe. On the shooting morning, after Colt texted “I’m sorry, mom,” she warned the school of his anxiety and gun access. She confirmed arguing with Colin about storage, where he said removing the rifle would “cause a sh*tstorm.”
Prosecution and Defense Arguments
Prosecutors, led by District Attorney Brad Smith, argue Colin ignored red flags like Colt’s obsession with school shooters, a “shrine” to Cruz, FBI tips on threats, self-harm, and hearing voices, yet provided the modified rifle and ammunition. A Colin text noted: “We have had a very difficult past couple of years and he needs help. Anger, anxiety, quick to be volatile. I don’t know what to do.”
Defense attorney Brian Hobbs countered:
“That’s the difference between tragedy and criminal liability… You cannot hold someone criminally responsible for failing to predict what was intentionally hidden from them.”
On cross-examination, Hobbs highlighted Marcee’s delayed disclosure of Colt’s searches and her own DFCS cases, arrests, and failure to call 911 pre-shooting.
Family Background and Prior Incidents
The Grays separated in 2022; Colt stayed with his father. Marcee lost custody after a failed drug test and was arrested for tying her mother to a chair and keying Colin’s truck in desperation. She admitted giving Colt unprescribed Zoloft during a panic attack.
Colt, now 16 and prosecuted as an adult on 55 counts, hid planning notes. His trial date is pending.
The trial, in its second week, continues with live coverage available here.
