The grandfather of the Georgia shooter, who killed four people at Apalachee High School in Winder, has revealed that the 14-year-old suspect sent a haunting text to his mother moments before the shooting. “I’m sorry, mom,” read the message from Colt Gray to Marcee Gray on the morning of the shooting, according to his grandfather, Charles Polhamus.
Marcee, 43, panicked and immediately called Apalachee High School to warn a counselor of an “extreme emergency,” a relative told The Washington Post. “I was the one that notified the school counselor at the high school. I told them it was an extreme emergency and for them to go immediately and find [my son] to check on him,” Marcee told her sister. The latest US shooting earlier this week claimed the lives of two students and two teachers. Nine other people were injured in the attack.
Suspect Charged as Adult
Colt Gray, who is being charged as an adult, faces four counts of felony murder, according to the New York Post. His father, Colin Gray, 54, has been arrested on two counts of second-degree murder, four counts of involuntary manslaughter, and eight counts of cruelty to children. Polhamus, 81, blamed Colt’s father, Colin Gray, for the tragedy, calling him “evil” and claiming he got Marcee addicted to drugs.
“Collie Gray did this to his family and he will rot in hell for it. That’s a fact,” Polhamus said. Polhamus alleged that Colin regularly screamed at Marcee and the kids and that he pressured Marcee to obtain drugs for him when doctors refused to prescribe opiates after he hurt his back. “Living in that environment – they lost their house, he lost his job,” the grandfather said.
‘Good kid’
Despite the grave nature of the crime, Polhamus stressed that Colt was a “good kid” before the shooting and was “nothing like his dad.” He claimed that Colt was apologetic for the bloodshed and was driven to violence by his father’s actions.” Colt didn’t cause that to happen. He did it. He didn’t wake up one day and decide I’m going to kill [four] people. No, he didn’t do that. He came out of an environment,” the grandfather said.
“If you live in that kind of relationship for 11 years you’re not going to stay stable,” he added. Polhamus admitted that Colt “has to pay for what he did”. However, the grandpa insisted that the teenage boy was a victim of his father’s bad influence. “He was driven, no question in my mind. He was driven by his father to do what he did. That’s as plain as I can put it and I know I’m right,” he said.
Past Threats
Earlier, state authorities revealed that the suspect had been previously questioned by law enforcement in May 2023 due to “anonymous tips regarding online threats to carry out a school shooting.” The suspect denied making any such threats at the time, according to the Post.
Investigators also discovered that Colin Gray purchased the AR-15-style rifle used in the shooting as a Christmas gift for his son in December 2023. As the investigation continues, the Winder community is in mourning, and officials are working to provide answers. Sheriff Jud Smith cautioned that it may take “multiple days” to obtain a clear picture of the events leading up to the tragedy.
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