The father of the teenager who carried out the deadly 2024 mass shooting at Apalachee High School has asked a judge to order a new trial days after he began serving a 15-year prison sentence.
Defense seeks reversal of guilty verdict
Colin Gray, 55, was sentenced last week after a jury in March found him criminally responsible in connection with the September 2024 shooting in Winder, Georgia. In a motion filed this week, defense attorneys requested a new trial to be granted within 30 days, contending the March verdict was “contrary to evidence,” “decidedly and strongly against the weight of the evidence” and “contrary to law and the principles of justice and equity.”
Gray had admitted providing the assault rifle that his then-14-year-old son, Colt Gray, used in the attack, which left two students and two teachers dead. Prosecutors had tried Gray on 27 counts, including second-degree murder; had he been convicted on more counts, he faced more than a century behind bars.
Background and the original verdict
The jury found Gray guilty in March on multiple counts tied to the deadly shooting. Last month, his son Colt pleaded guilty to all 55 counts against him, including murder and aggravated assault, and was sentenced to life without parole.
At Colin Gray's sentencing, Judge Nicholas Primm criticized the father’s handling of warning signs and access to firearms. The judge said Gray failed to act as risks grew increasingly evident, a factor the court cited in imposing the 15-year term.
"No parent thinks that their child is going to be the next school shooter, but it became more and more obvious that something bad was going to happen," Judge Primm said.
In court the judge said the defendant "failed as a parent," language prosecutors cited as support for holding Gray accountable for providing the weapon used in the attack.
What the defense is asking for
The motion seeks full vacatur of the March convictions and a new trial. Defense attorneys argue the jury’s decision cannot stand given alleged inconsistencies and legal errors they say affected the outcome. The filing claims the verdict was not supported by the evidence and that legal principles warrant reconsideration.
The motion does not ask for immediate release; it requests a new trial be scheduled within 30 days of the filing. No hearing date has been publicly disclosed, and court records will determine whether the judge will grant a new trial or uphold the verdict and sentence.
Community impact and next steps
The motion arrives as the Winder community continues to reckon with the shooting’s consequences. The case drew statewide attention because it involved both parental conduct and juvenile culpability in a school massacre.
Legal experts say requests for new trials after jury convictions are common procedural steps; judges consider the motion, prosecution response, and whether legal errors or evidentiary problems influenced the jury. If the motion is denied, defense counsel can pursue appeals in higher courts. If granted, a retrial would reopen the contentious and closely followed matter.
- Defendant: Colin Gray, 55
- Convictions: Found guilty in March on multiple counts related to the September 2024 Apalachee High School shooting
- Sentence: 15 years in prison
- Co-defendant: Colt Gray — pleaded guilty to 55 counts, sentenced to life without parole
| Key dates | Event |
|---|---|
| September 2024 | Shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder |
| March 2026 | Jury convicts Colin Gray |
| Last week | Colin Gray sentenced to 15 years |
| This week | Defense files motion for a new trial |
Prosecutors in the original trial emphasized that supplying the firearm to a minor who went on to kill classmates and teachers created criminal liability. Defense attorneys counter that the verdict was not supported by the record and that legal errors require a fresh review.
As the motion moves through the Barrow County court system, observers will watch for whether Judge Primm or another judge finds grounds to order a retrial. The decision will shape the next chapter of a case that remains a profound point of pain for the local community and a legal touchstone for debates over parental responsibility and gun access in violent incidents involving minors.
