The tragic school shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia has shaken the community to its core, and the aftermath has brought intense scrutiny on both the shooter, 14-year-old Colt Gray, and his father, Colin Gray.
Colt is accused of killing two teachers and two students, while injuring nine others, in what is now the deadliest school shooting in Georgia’s history. As investigators piece together the motives and circumstances that led to the attack, Colt’s family, particularly his grandfather Charles Polhamus, is speaking out, laying much of the blame squarely on Colin Gray’s shoulders.
Polhamus, who is Colt’s maternal grandfather, did not mince words when discussing his ex-son-in-law. In an emotional and furious interview, he described Colin Gray as an “evil” man who had driven his grandson to commit the atrocity. “He needs the death penalty,” Polhamus declared, pointing to what he said were years of dysfunction, screaming, and instability that Colt endured while living with his father.
Colin Gray now faces multiple charges, including four counts of manslaughter and two counts of second-degree murder, as authorities allege he gave his son access to the AR-15-style rifle used in the massacre. There are further claims that the gun was a Christmas present, a chilling detail in a case already marked by tragedy and failure at many levels.
The deeper story that Polhamus reveals paints a picture of a boy who was failed by the adults around him. Colt, according to family members, had been showing signs of severe distress for some time. His grandmother, Deborah Polhamus, had visited the school just a day before the shooting to address Colt’s behavior, and his mother, Marcee Gray, had called the school minutes before the attack, warning of an “extreme emergency.” Marcee had previously expressed concern about Colt’s mental health, with texts indicating that he had been having “homicidal and suicidal thoughts.” These warnings went unheeded, and the events of that Wednesday unfolded in the worst possible way.
Polhamus’ anguish is palpable as he recounts the downward spiral that led to the shooting. He insists that Colt was once a good kid, deeply affected by his father’s volatile behavior and the toxic environment at home. “Colt didn’t cause that to happen. He did it,” Polhamus said, pointing to Colin Gray’s influence and actions as a major factor in his grandson’s turn toward violence. According to Polhamus, years of living with an unstable, often angry father, along with exposure to violent content online, were part of the toxic mix that ultimately pushed Colt to commit the unthinkable.
Meanwhile, classmates of Colt have come forward with their own harrowing accounts of the shooting. Bri Jones, a 14-year-old student, recounted how she narrowly avoided letting Colt into her classroom just moments before the shooting began. Her mother’s advice to always check who was at the door before opening it may have saved lives, as Colt turned his gun on another classroom after failing to enter Jones’ room.
The devastating impact of the shooting is still being felt, with students and teachers left traumatized by the violence they witnessed. One student, Malaysia Mitchell, described the horror of watching her math teacher, Richard Aspinwall, die in front of the class, while others dragged his body into the room for safety. The death toll, which also included students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, has left the community in mourning and searching for answers.
Colt is now being tried as an adult and could face life in prison for the attack. His father, Colin Gray, is also facing serious charges, including multiple counts of child cruelty, manslaughter, and murder. As Polhamus sees it, both father and son are now paying the price for the toxic environment that led to the tragedy. “He’s getting what he deserves. My grandson is getting what he deserves, too,” Polhamus said, grief-stricken and heartbroken by the destruction within his own family.
