Father of Georgia school shooting suspect charged and Hunter Biden pleads guilty: Morning Rundown

The father of the teen suspect in a Georgia high school shooting has been arrested. Economists expect the latest U.S. jobs report to reflect an employment slowdown. And Hunter Biden pleads guilty in his federal tax case.  

Here’s what to know today.

Father of Georgia school shooting suspect gifted son an AR-15 style rifle, sources say 

The day after a shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia left four people dead and nine others injured, details about the 14-year-old suspect and his father began to emerge.

Two law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation said that Colin Gray, 54, bought his son, Colt Gray, an AR-15 style rifle as a gift, and that the older Gray gave his son the firearm at some point after the two had been interviewed by the FBI in connection with the teen’s threats to carry out a school shooting last year.

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Colin Gray was arrested yesterday on allegations that he allowed his son to possess a weapon. He was charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder and eight counts of cruelty to children, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said.

Colt Gray is scheduled to make his first court appearance this morning, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections. He is being charged as an adult.

Law enforcement officials also said the teen suspect had shown interest in prior mass shootings, particularly the 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The information came as a result of the searches conducted during the investigation into the shooting.

Investigative documents also reveal more about the probe into the suspect and his father in May 2023 and why the case was ultimately “cleared.”

Read the full story here.

More coverage of the Apalachee High School shooting: 

• What we know about the four people who were killed.
• Students described the “haunting moment” when gunfire erupted.
• A new panic alarm system saved countless lives during the shooting, officials and advocates say. 

Jobs report comes at a crucial moment

The U.S. jobs market is losing steam — and today, Americans will find out by how much. The Bureau of Labor Statistics will report jobs data, including the unemployment rate for August. Wall Street expects the report to show a gain of 161,000 jobs, with the unemployment rate slipping to 4.2%, according to Dow Jones. 

This month’s update is especially important. The Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates in the coming weeks. And economic issues are dominating the conversation as Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump vie for voters’ support. 

Economists are hopeful the U.S. sees a “soft landing,” in which the economy slows but unemployment and inflation remain relatively low. However, there have been mixed signals.

Hunter Biden pleads guilty in surprise trial twist

Hunter Biden’s sentencing fate is now in the hands of a federal judge in Los Angeles after he pleaded guilty to all charges in the federal tax case against him. The move avoids a potentially embarrassing trial for Biden, the first offspring of a sitting president to stand trial on criminal charges.

Biden first attempted to enter what’s known as an Alford plea, where a defendant pleads guilty because of the strength of the case against them while maintaining their innocence. But Biden instead wound up taking an open plea, where a defendant pleads guilty to all the charges without an agreed-upon sentencing recommendation from prosecutors. Read more about the unexpected development in the case.

Politics in Brief 

2024 election: Ahead of next week’s presidential debate, an analysis of Kamala Harris’ past debate performances shows how she prepares and how she navigates criticism. On the campaign trail, both Harris and Donald Trump are putting their time, energy and cash on the difficult task of winning over the tiny fraction of voters who haven’t yet picked a side.

Contested purchase: President Joe Biden is planning to announce that he will formally block Nippon Steel’s proposed $14.9 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel, two people familiar with the matter said. Meanwhile, the political fight over the proposed sale is pitting some Pennsylvania steelworkers against each other — some from the same union.

Want more politics news? Sign up for From the Politics Desk to get exclusive reporting and analysis delivered to your inbox every weekday evening. Subscribe here.

Staff Pick: Ukrainians scramble to flee encroaching Russian attack

With Russian forces on the advance just five miles from the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovosk, holdout residents are saying goodbye to their homes, pets and a lifetime of possessions as they join the millions already displaced by the war. When it will be safe to return — or if there will be anything left to come back to — remains unclear. This sobering read from Richard Engel, Gabe Joselow and Victor Sema sheds light on the human realities at the center of a conflict that shows no sign of a resolution after two and a half years.

— Nick Duffy, platforms editor

NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified

Let’s talk about hair. If you’re the type who likes a low maintenance buzzed cut, consider one of these wet/dry head shavers recommended by barbers. Do you have long hair? One NBC Select reporter tried this buzzy new leave-in conditioner and highly recommends it.

Sign up to The Selection newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week. 

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