Georgia authorities have released body camera footage of a May 2023 interview between Jackson County sheriff's deputies and the suspect in the Apalachee High School shooting and his father.
Jackson County, GeorgiaOn Nov. 24, deputies interviewed in person the teen who now faces felony murder charges for killing four people at Apalachee High School in Winder. Public defenders representing Collin and Colt Gray did not respond to Fox News' requests for comment.
The video shows deputies' interactions after receiving a tip from the FBI about a threat made on Discord, a messaging app popular with some video gamers, on May 21, 2023, when the suspect, Colt Gray, was 13 years old, to shoot up a middle school.
Police knock on Gray's house and are greeted by a surprised Colin Gray in his underwear and a T-shirt.
Georgia school shooting: New audio of suspect's father's encounter with police over online threats in 2023
Collin Gray, father of Apalachee High School shooting suspect Colt Gray, speaks to police in Georgia in May 2023. (Jackson County Sheriff's Office)
The officers explained that they had received a complaint and had first gone to Collin's old address, where he asked if he could change his clothes before beginning the questioning.
Collin then reappeared dressed, apologised for being late and said he had been watching a golf tournament while opening a drink, and police asked him if he had a son.
As the officers explained the reason for their visit and continued to question Colin about his son, Colin warned him that Colt would be “red in the face” if the officers questioned him.
As police began questioning Collin, he gave more details about Gray's home life and the allegations, describing the visit as “bullshit” and a terrorist threat.
“He's having a really hard time. It's very difficult for him to go to school without being bullied,” Colin explained.[Colt’s] I've had a lot of experiences.”
Collin remained calm as he explained Colt's past to the officers, confessing that he had been through some tough times himself, adding that he and Colt's mother had divorced and that he had been 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.”
“[Colt] “He just wants us to have a simple life. He should be excited about starting eighth grade. It's been so hard for him to go to school and not get bullied. Another thing since then, he's been talking to a couple of friends,” Gray said.
Georgia shooter's father claims son was bullied at school, called 'gay' by classmates, 'it was very difficult'
Collin Gray told authorities there were weapons in the home but they were unloaded. (Jackson County Sheriff's Office)
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.
“Is it accessible?” the officer asks.
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Colt Gray, who is charged as an adult with four counts of murder, made his initial appearance in Barrow County Court on Friday, September 6th, following the Apalachee High School shooting in Winder, Georgia. (AP Photo/Bryn Anderson)
“The bullets… there's no bullets in it… but we do a lot of shooting. We do a lot of deer hunting. This is the first time he's shot a deer this year,” Collin said. “I'm pretty shocked… 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 said anything like that. If he said anything like that I would be furious and then all the guns would be gone and out of his reach,” 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.”
“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.
Apalachee High School shooting suspect Colt Gray and his father appear in court separately
Collin Gray (54), the father of Apalachee High School shooter Colt Gray (14), made his first court appearance in Barrow County Court in Winder, Georgia on Friday, September 6th. (AP Photo/Bryn Anderson)
“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.
Colt then joined the officers on the porch, wearing a blue T-shirt, sweatpants and a blue hat.
“They're good guys, they're just going to tell you what's going on,” Colin told his son.
Colt appeared to fidget nervously while answering officers' questions, with his hands in his pockets, and avoided eye contact with officers as he repeatedly denied threatening to shoot up the school, even going so far as to say “they must have misheard someone.”
The officer seemed to take Colt at his word, and the two even laughed about people lying to the police.
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The suspected shooter has been identified as 14-year-old student Colt Gray. (Barrow County Sheriff's Office)
Authorities identified Colt Gray, now 14, as the gunman who shot and killed two students and two teachers at Apalachee High School. Gray turned himself in to authorities and was taken into custody after the assault. He is being tried as an adult.
Colt's father, Collin Gray, 54, has also been indicted in connection to the school shooting. According to an arrest warrant affidavit, he is charged with four counts of manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder and eight counts of child abuse.
In Georgia, parents Criminal liability On behalf of the children.
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Authorities allege that Collin knew and allowed his son, Colt, to have access to firearms in the home before Wednesday's shooting.
Fox News Digital's Jasmine Baer contributed to this report.
