Georgia authorities released audio from a 2023 visit to the home of the suspected Georgia high school shooter after an anonymous tip to the FBI surfaced about online threats about him “possibly threatening to shoot up a high school” in a group chat on the messaging app Discord.
Jackson County, GeorgiaSheriff's deputies spoke face-to-face with the boy who is now charged with felony murder in the deaths of four people at Apalachee High School in Winder on Wednesday.
Sheriff's officials described their interactions in a detailed investigative report from May 21, 2023, when suspect Colt Gray was 13, after the FBI tipped them off to a threat on the messaging app Discord, popular with some video gamers, to shoot up a high school.
As the police begin to question Colin Gray, the father shares more about Gray's family life and the accusation, saying that this visit is bullshit and a terrorist threat.
COLIN GRAY, FATHER OF GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING SUSPECT, CHARGED WITH MURDER, MANSLAUGHTER AND CHILD CRUELTY
The suspected shooter was identified as Colt Gray, a 14-year-old student. (Barrow County Sheriff's Office)
“He's going through a lot… it's very hard for him to go to school and not have people mess with him,” Colin said.
Colin tells the officer that he and Colt's mother divorced and that they had been evicted.
“At first he had a hard time separating. I've been taking him to school. He goes to Jefferson Middle School. He's doing really well,” Colin explained.
The officer acknowledges the gravity of the visit and Colin agrees, saying that Colt “knows how serious this is, believe me.”
Colin claims he has been to the school several times, blames other kids touching his son, and says Colt wanted to move out of the school district.
Colin then claims that they continue to bother him and talks about the importance of gun safety.
“Let me ask you this: Do you have any weapons in the house?” the officer asks.
“Yes, I do,” says Colin.
WHO IS THE ALLEGED GEORGIA SCHOOL SHOOTER? WHAT WE KNOW
From left: Math teachers Richard Aspinwall and Christina Irimie were killed at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, along with Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, authorities say. (Fox News)
“Are they accessible?” the officer then asks.
“They're… I mean, there's nothing loaded, but they're… we shoot a lot, we hunt a lot of deer. He killed his first deer this year,” Colin says. “I'm in shock… I'm pissed off, to be honest.”
“I'm a little bit baffled by the whole thing, but I can tell you this: I take it very seriously and so does he, in fact,” Colin says.
“I don't know anything about him saying stupid things like that. And I would be so mad if he did, and then all the guns would be gone and he wouldn't be able to access them,” 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 interested in outdoor activities.”
“Get him away from the video game,” the officer replies.
“Yeah, exactly. Exactly. That's the best part. Honestly, the picture I have on my phone is of him with blood on his cheeks when he shot his first deer. It's the best day of my life,” Colin says. “He must know how serious guns are, what they can do, and how to use them and not use them.”
GEORGIA OFFICIALS INTERVIEWED SUSPECT IN 2023 APALACHEE HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING, COULD NOT CONFIRM THREAT
A person kneels in front of flowers placed outside the entrance to Apalachee High School on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Winder, Ga., a day after the deadly shootings at the school. (AP Photo/Charlotte Kramon)
“It's a bit of a shock. So whatever you're telling him, please impress upon him that this is not a joke, this is not a joke at all,” Colin continued.
“We wouldn't be here,” the officer said.
“No, I know, I know, and I'm telling you right now, we talk about it quite a bit. All the school shootings, stuff that happens. Yeah, I hear you're getting bullied at school. He is. He's getting bullied at school. And… Is everything okay? That's why I still go there. No. You know, because you never really know. And I don't want anything to happen to him, so… Yeah. Yeah,” Colin finished.
The officer then asks to speak to Colt and Colin agrees to go find him.
Colt enters the room and the officer tells him that there will be a report. The officer seems to believe Colt and they even laugh at people who lie to the police.
The officer and Colt exchanged small talk about school, the end of school, and moving on to high school.
Colin Gray, 54, faces multiple charges for the alleged actions of his son, Colt Gray, 14, including four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder and eight counts of cruelty to children.
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On Thursday, authorities said Gray Sr. knowingly allowed his son to possess a gun.
He is being held in the Barrow County Jail.
Fox News Digital's Louis Casiano and Timothy Nerozzi contributed to this report.
