Georgia shooter previously interviewed over online threats to carry out school shootings, FBI says
The suspect who killed four people and wounded nine at a Georgia high school on Wednesday had previously made online threats to carry out a school shooting, the FBI said.
In a joint statement, the FBI's Atlanta field office and the Jackson County Sheriff's Office said the bureau's National Threat Countermeasures Center received an anonymous tip in May 2023 that a threat had been posted online about a possible school shooting.
The threat also included an image of a gun, according to the FBI.
Investigators determined the threat was made in Georgia within 24 hours and reported the matter to the sheriff's office.
“The Jackson County Sheriff's Office located a 13-year-old male who may be the suspect and interviewed him and his father,” the FBI said. “The father stated he had a hunting gun in the home, but the suspect had no access to the gun unsupervised.”
The boy denies making the threats and authorities have warned local schools to keep an eye on him.
Authorities said at the time they had no reason to make any arrests.
Authorities identified 14-year-old Colt Gray as the gunman who shot and killed two students and two teachers at Apalachee High School on Wednesday. Gray turned himself in to authorities and was taken into custody. He is expected to be charged with murder as an adult.
“Following the joint statement released earlier, the individual identified as the 13-year-old is the same individual in custody in connection with today's shooting at Apalachee High School,” the FBI said.
According to FBI sources, the family was living in Jackson County at the time but has since relocated to Barrow County, Georgia.
