The father of Colt Gray, accused of shooting a boy at a Georgia school, called him a “sissy” and bought the AR-15 allegedly used during his son’s deadly attack to “toughen him up,” relatives said.
Colin Gray bought the gun last Christmas and gave it to Gray, 14, who allegedly used it during the bloodbath at Apalachee High School.
DailyMail.com previously revealed how his father had taken him on hunting trips in the 18 months leading up to the shooting, which left four people dead.
It has now emerged that Gray Sr., who has also been charged with the murders, frequently used derogatory slurs against his son.
“He was cursing Colt to his face,” a relative of Colt’s mother, Marcee, told the newspaper. The New York Post.
The father of Colt Gray, accused of shooting at a Georgia school, called him a “sissy” and bought the AR-15 allegedly used during his son’s fatal shooting to “toughen him up,” relatives said
‘Names no boy wants to hear: sissy, coward, bitch… just names that were meant to tear him down and emasculate him.
Colin always thought Colt was too gentle and sweet. That’s why I think he gave him the rifle.
Four people were killed in the Sept. 4 mass shooting: Mason Schermerhorn, 14, Christian Angulo, 14, Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53. Nine others were injured.
Gray, 54, admitted giving the rifle to his son even though police had previously interviewed him about alleged threats his son made against the school.
The father and son had been on the FBI’s radar for more than a year for the incident, but no arrests were made due to no probable cause at the time.
The father now faces two counts of second-degree murder, four counts of involuntary manslaughter and eight counts of cruelty to children.
If convicted on all counts, he could face up to 180 years in prison.
Gray’s father told police his son was not a loner and that he was bullied at school and told by his peers that he was gay, according to a Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department report.
Colin Gray, 54, has also been charged in connection with the shooting that claimed the lives of two students and two teachers.
Investigators say Gray, 14, used this pictured AR-15 to kill four people at Apalachee High School.
Gray received the gun he allegedly used as a Christmas gift from his father.
The report also details that Colt told his father, “I’m a good boy, daddy, I would never do that,” and said, “I don’t want to be involved in any of that.”
His father said he found it “very difficult” to go to school and “not be bothered” and had been trying to get him onto a school team.
“It went from one thing to another,” Colin said. “I was talking to a couple of friends I had and I was like, ‘Oh look, Colt’s gay, he’s dating this guy.'”
“I just ridiculed him day after day.”
Father and son appeared in Barrow County Superior Court on Friday, handcuffed and shackled in front of their bodies.
Colt reportedly told police “I did it” when he was read his Miranda rights after his arrest Wednesday.
The teenager, dressed in a green T-shirt and gray sweatpants, kept his head down, his hair covering his face, and spoke quietly only to Judge Currie Mingledorff, answering “yes sir” when asked to confirm his name.
Judge Mingledorff called Gray to correct a statement he had made, telling him, “I wanted to make it clear to you that the penalty does not include death, but rather life imprisonment with or without the possibility of parole.”
Mason Schermerhorn, 14, an autistic student at Apalachee High School, was the first victim to be identified. Christian Angulo, 14, also lost his life in the senseless shooting.
Professor Richard Aspinwall was identified as one of the four victims of the shooting. Christina Irimie was also identified as a victim.
A 2005 Supreme Court decision bans the execution of criminals who were under 18 when they committed their crimes.
Meanwhile, his father, Colin, wept as he appeared shortly after his son in the same courtroom, rocking back and forth.
Colin Gray shuffled in, dressed in a prison-issued striped T-shirt and tracksuit and shackled like his son. He said his name in a hoarse voice, confirming his age and that he could read and write.