Georgia authorities have released audio from a 2023 visit to the home of a Georgia high school shooting suspect after an anonymous report to the FBI surfaced of an online threat in a group chat on the messaging app Discord that “may have threatened to shoot up a middle school.”
Jackson County, GeorgiaOn Wednesday, deputies interviewed in person the juvenile charged with murder in the quadruple slayings at Apalachee High School in Winder.
In a detailed investigation report dated May 21, 2023, deputies described interactions that took place after they received a tip from the FBI about a threat made by suspect Colt Gray, 13, on Discord, a messaging app popular among some video gamers, to shoot up a middle school.
As police began questioning Collin Gray, his father gave further details about Gray's home life and the allegations, describing the visit as egregious and a terrorist threat.
Georgia high school shooting suspect's father, Collin Gray, charged with murder, manslaughter, child abuse
The suspected shooter has been identified as 14-year-old student Colt Gray. (Barrow County Sheriff's Office)
“It's very hard on him. It's very hard for him to go to school without being bullied,” Collin said.
Collin told officers that he and Colt's mother were getting divorced and that he was being evicted.
“He had a hard time with the breakup at first. I took him to school. He goes to Jefferson Middle School. He's doing really well,” Collin explained.
The officer acknowledges the seriousness of the visit, and Colin agrees, and Colt says, “I know how serious it is, trust me.”
Collin claims he has been to the school multiple times and blames other kids for touching his son, and Colt said he wanted out of the school district.
Collin then claimed he continued to be bullied and spoke about the importance of gun safety.
“Let me ask you, are there any weapons in the house?” the officer asked.
“I think so,” Colin says.
Who is the suspect in the Georgia school shooting? What we know
From left to right: Math teachers Richard Aspinwall and Christina Irimy were killed at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, along with Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, according to authorities. (Fox News)
“Is it accessible?” the officer asks.
“It doesn't have any bullets in it, but we do a lot of shooting and we do a lot of deer hunting and this is the first time he's shot a deer this year,” Collin said. “I'm pretty shocked and I'm angry to be honest.”
“I'm a little surprised by what's happened but I can say this: I take it very seriously and I actually think so does he,” Collin said.
“I have no idea that he would say something like that. If he said something like that I would be furious. Then all the guns would be gone and he wouldn't have access to them,” Colin continues. “I'm trying to be honest. I'm trying to teach him about firearms and safety and how to do it and get him interested in the outdoors.”
“Keep him away from video games,” the officer responded.
“Yeah, exactly. It's awesome. Honestly, I have a picture on my phone of him with blood on his cheek the first time he shot a deer. It's the best day ever,” Colin said. “So he certainly knows the gravity of the weapon, what it does, how to use it and how not to use it.”
Georgia police questioned suspect in 2023 Apalachee High School shooting but were unable to establish threat
A person kneels in front of flowers placed outside the entrance to Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, the day after the school mass shooting. (AP Photo/Charlotte Clammon)
“So it's kind of a shock. So I just want him to know that no matter what everybody's saying to him, no matter what this is, no matter where it's coming from, it's not a joke. No, it's not a joke,” Collin continued.
“We wouldn't be here,” the officer said.
“No, I know, I know. I'm telling you right now, we talk about it a lot. School shootings and stuff. Yeah, I heard you were bullied at school. And he is. He's bullied at school. So. Are you OK? That's why I keep going there. No. Because I really don't know. I don't want anything to happen to him. Yeah, yeah,” Collin concluded.
The officer then asked to speak to Colt, and Collin agreed to take him.
When Colt comes into the room, the officer tells him he has a report to report, and the officer seems to take Colt at his word, and the two share a laugh about how some people would lie to the police.
The officer and Colt made small talk about school, the end of school, and moving on to high school.
Collin Gray, 54, is charged with multiple counts of manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder and eight counts of child abuse in connection with the actions of his son, 14-year-old Colt Gray.
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Authorities said Thursday that Gray knowingly allowed his son to possess a weapon.
He is being held in the Barrow County Jail.
Fox News Digital's Louis Casiano and Timothy Nerozzi contributed to this report.
