Colin Gray, 55, has asked for a new trial days after starting a 15-year sentence for his role in the Sept. 2024 Apalachee High School shooting. A March jury convicted him on 27 counts, including second-degree murder, after prosecutors said he provided the assault rifle used by his then-14-year-old son. Gray's lawyers argue the verdict was "contrary to evidence" and seek a retrial within 30 days. The shooter, Colt Gray, pleaded guilty to 55 counts and received life without parole.
Father of Apalachee High Shooter Seeks New Trial Days After 15-Year Sentence
Brynn Anderson/AP - PHOTO: Colin Gray, the father of Apalachee High School shooting suspect Colt Gray, arrives to the courtroom at the Barrow County courthouse, Dec. 18, 2025, in Winder,Ga.
Colin Gray, 55, has filed a motion seeking a new trial just days after beginning a 15-year prison term for his role in the September 2024 mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia.
Gray was convicted in March on 27 counts, including second-degree murder, and initially faced more than 100 years behind bars before the judge imposed a 15-year sentence last week. Prosecutors say Gray admitted providing the assault rifle used by his then-14-year-old son, Colt Gray, who carried out the attack that killed two students and two teachers.
Mike Stewart/AP - PHOTO: Students and parents walk off campus at Apalachee High School, Sept. 4, 2024, in Winder, Ga.
This week, Gray’s defense attorneys filed a motion asking the court to grant a new trial within 30 days. The motion argues 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."
At sentencing, Judge Nicholas Primm said the conviction reflected that "the warning lights were flashing brighter and brighter," and that Colin Gray failed to seek help for his son or remove his access to firearms. Primm added that "no parent thinks that their child is going to be the next school shooter," and called Gray's actions a parental failure.
Last month, Colt Gray pleaded guilty to all 55 counts against him, including murder and aggravated assault, and was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. The judge described the teenager's conduct as "deliberate, contemplated evil."
Mike Stewart/AP - PHOTO: A medical helicopter is seen in front of Apalachee High School after a shooting at the school, Sept. 4, 2024, in Winder, Ga.
Defense attorneys for Colin Gray say legal errors and the weight of the evidence justify a new trial; prosecutors have not publicly responded to the motion as of the filing. Both the sentencing and the motion are likely to prompt further litigation as the case proceeds through post-conviction processes.
Why it matters: The motion highlights disputes over parental responsibility, access to firearms, and how criminal liability is applied in cases where a caregiver provided a weapon used by a minor in a mass shooting. The filing could result in renewed hearings, appeals, or further legal proceedings.
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