Georgia

Teen and father face murder charges after Georgia high school shooting

Published

2 months ago

October 18, 2024

Teen and father face murder charges after Georgia high school shooting

A grand jury in Georgia has indicted a father and son for their roles in a deadly mass shooting at Apalachee High School, Winder.

The incident, which took place on Sept. 4, claimed four lives and wounded several others, plunged the community of Barrow County into shock and despair.

Colt Gray, 14, has been charged as an adult with 55 counts, including four murder charges and 25 counts of aggravated assault.

His father, Colin Gray, 54, faces 29 counts, including second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter.

Both father and son are scheduled for arraignment on November 21.

The shooting resulted in the deaths of two teachers, Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, and two students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14.

Seven other students and a teacher were injured, some critically.

Colin Gray, 54, the father of Apalachee High School shooter Colt Gray, 14, sits in the Barrow County courthouse for his first appearance, Sept. 6, 2024, in Winder, Ga. Both parties are scheduled for arraignment…

AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File

Barrow County District Attorney Brad Smith, who is handling the prosecution, told reporters that this case has presented some unique challenges.

“Every person, every kid in that school was a victim,” Smith said.

“Kids in all the other schools that were locked down during this were victims. Parents that were terrified about where their kids were.”

Colin Gray’s second-degree murder charges are an unusual feature in Georgia law, brought when a child’s death occurs during a case of cruelty to children.

The indictment accuses Gray of giving his son access to guns and ammunition despite being warned of the dangers.

Investigators testified that Gray ignored repeated signs of his son’s mental health deterioration and fascination with violence.

Georgia Father Son School Shooting Case — Colt Gray, charged as an adult with four counts of murder, sits in the Barrow County courthouse during his first appearance for the shooting at Apalachee High School, Sept. 6, 2024, in Winder, Ga. Prosecutors…

AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, Pool, File)

They said the teenager carefully plotted the attack, carrying a semiautomatic rifle onto the school bus and using a poster board to conceal it.

A Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent testified that Colt Gray carried a diagram of his second-period classroom, estimating that he could kill as many as 26 people and wound as many as 13 others. “Surprised if I make it this far,” he wrote.

Colt Gray’s interest in previous school shootings had been noted by his parents.

His mother, Marcee Gray, told investigators she had argued with Colin Gray, urging him to secure his weapons.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation Agent Kelsey Ward claims that instead of taking action, Colin bought their son shooting accessories and ammunition.

Ward testified that Colt had created a “shrine” to school shooters, including an image of Nikolas Cruz, the gunman responsible for the Parkland, Florida, school shooting.

Despite this, Colt’s parents dismissed the behavior as “joking,” choosing not to intervene.

Further testimony revealed that Colt’s mother had tried to get her son into a mental health facility just days before the shooting.

However, the plan fell through after a dispute between Colt’s parents about whether to secure the family’s guns.

District Attorney Smith said that the responsibility for preventing such a tragedy extends to the home.

The Grays’ case echoes another high-profile school shooting in Michigan, where Jennifer and James Crumbley were convicted for their failure to secure a firearm that was later used by their son in a school attack.

They were sentenced to at least ten years in prison for involuntary manslaughter.

As the trial date approaches, both Colt and Colin Gray remain in custody. Neither has sought release on bail. Their lawyers have yet to comment publicly.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press

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Georgia

Notre Dame vs. Georgia: Odds and how to watch the Allstate Sugar Bowl

Published

3 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

Notre Dame vs. Georgia: Odds and how to watch the Allstate Sugar Bowl

The first round of the College Football Playoff lived up to expectations, as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish claimed a quarterfinal spot after defeating the Indiana Hoosiers in snowy South Bend, Indiana. The Fighting Irish will face the No. 2 seeded Georgia Bulldogs in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish secured their first playoff victory in the new era of the College Football Playoff with a 27-17 win over Indiana. Quarterback Riley Leonard delivered a stellar performance against the Hoosiers, completing 71.9% of his passes for 201 yards, one touchdown, and one interception while also scoring a touchdown on the ground. On defense, safety Xavier Watts was the standout player, recording 10 tackles and an interception to help the Fighting Irish clinch the victory.

The Bulldogs, who received a bye, are gearing up for a run at the College Football Playoff without their starting quarterback, Carson Beck. He will likely be sidelined due to an elbow injury on his throwing arm, which he sustained during the final play of the first half in the SEC Championship game against Texas. This injury forced him to leave the game early. Sophomore Gunner Stockton stepped in and successfully led the Bulldogs to a 22-19 victory. Gunner has a completion rate of 78.1% and has thrown for 206 yards in the three games he played this season. He is expected to lead the offense moving forward.

Here is everything to know ahead of kickoff at the All-State Sugar Bowl.

Allstate Sugar Bowl odds, lines: Notre Dame vs. Georgia

The Georgia Bulldogs are favorites to defeat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, according to the BetMGM college football odds.

Odds as of afternoon on Saturday, Dec. 21.

Spread: Georgia (-1.5)
Moneylines: Georgia (-120); Notre Dame (+102)
Over/under: 44.5

How to watch Notre Dame vs. Georgia in the Allstate Sugar Bowl

Date: Wednesday, Jan. 1
Time: 8:45 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Stream: Fubo
Where: Caesars Superdome (New Orleans, LA)

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Georgia

Georgia Disaster Recovery Centers to be closed for Christmas, New Year holidays

Published

11 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

Georgia Disaster Recovery Centers to be closed for Christmas, New Year holidays

ATLANTA, Ga. (WALB) – All Georgia Disaster Recovery Centers will be closed for the holidays.

For the upcoming Christmas holiday, the centers will be closed from Tuesday, Dec. 24, until Thursday, Dec. 26.

The centers will be closed from Tuesday, Dec. 31, until Thursday, Jan. 2, for the New Year holiday.

All centers are also closed on Sundays.

While the centers are closed, you can call the FEMA helpline at (800) 621-3362, or apply or check your application on https://www.disasterassistance.gov/. The helpline will be closed on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.

Survivors may visit any one of the FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers throughout the state to apply for assistance. Click here to find a center near you.

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook and X (Twitter). For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

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Georgia

Notre Dame vs. Georgia opening odds: Date, time, point spread and total for Sugar Bowl, CFP quarterfinal

Published

19 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

Notre Dame vs. Georgia opening odds: Date, time, point spread and total for Sugar Bowl, CFP quarterfinal

The first victory of the new 12-team College Football Playoff goes to Notre Dame, as Marcus Freeman and the Irish blasted Indiana at home in South Bend to advance on to the quarterfinal. Their reward? A date with No. 2 seed Georgia, which earned a first-round bye after outlasting Texas in a classic SEC Championship Game earlier this month.

After a dominant performance against the Hoosiers, Notre Dame won’t be scared of anybody. The Irish defensive front manhandled the nation’s top scoring offense, while Jeremiyah Love and Co. outrushed Indiana 193-63. Notre Dame was the physically superior team from the opening snap, but now the competition ratchets up considerably against one of the most talented teams in the country. Which of these two teams is installed as the early favorite? The early spread and total have been released, so let’s break it all down.

Time: Jan. 1, 8:45 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN
Location: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, La.

According to FanDuel, Notre Dame opened up as 1.5-point favorites. However, the spread quickly flipped, and UGA became a 1.5-point favorite. There was also movement with the total, which opened at 46.5 before dropping to 45.5.

The big unknown looming over this game is Georgia’s QB situation, as redshirt sophomore Gunner Stockton is set to start for the Dawgs with Carson Beck unavailable due to an arm injury suffered in the conference title game against Texas. (Beck is likely out for the rest of Georgia’s season, with Smart saying earlier this week that his quarterback is still weighing surgical options.)

Of course, Stockton still did just enough to lead Georgia to a dramatic OT win over Texas in Atlanta, completing 12 of 16 passes for 71 yards (albeit with one brutal interception). And when this Georgia team is rolling, they’re commanding on both lines of scrimmage, capable of bullying just about anyone in the country. Even with Beck out, you can understand why Vegas would consider the Dawgs a slight favorite, especially considering that we still haven’t seen Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard succeed when pressed against a great defense.

Still, an essential pick ’em here feels about right, considering how stout both of these defenses are and how battled tested these teams have proven themselves to be.

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