Father of Apalachee school shooter seeks to move trial from Barrow County

By Joe Johnson

The father of the Apalachee High School shooter wants his trial moved out of Barrow County.

Attorneys for Colin Gray have filed a motion for a change of venue that claims “community feeling is strongly set against him” and would violate his right to a fair trial.

“The alleged victims were well-known citizens [of] this county with high public visibility and their alleged murder evokes great passion and prejudice in this community,” the motion states.

The defendant is father of Colt Gray, the 14-year-old accused of killing four people and injuring nine others inside Apalachee High School on Sept. 4, 2024.

Colt Gray faces 55 charges, including malice and felony murder, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, and cruelty to children.

Colin Gray was criminally charged because he allegedly gave the murder weapon as a gift to his son despite knowing that Colt had previously threatened school violence,

The elder Gray is charged with second-degree murder, second-degree cruelty to children, and involuntary manslaughter.

Father and son have both pleaded not guilty to all charges.