Georgia

WATCH: Cops Grill Colt Gray on School Shooting Threat Last Year

Published

4 months ago

September 10, 2024

Footage has emerged of the 14-year-old suspect in a Georgia school shooting being interviewed by police over online threats of a similar attack more than a year ago.

Deputies with Jackson County’s Sheriff’s Office in Winder, Georgia, visited the home of Colt Gray, then 13, in May 2023 following a tip-off from the FBI that somebody had posted on Discord about planning to “shoot up a middle school tomorrow.”

Gray has now been charged with the murder of four people—two students, and two teachers—in a shooting spree that also saw nine others wounded at the town’s Apalachee High School. Local police say Gray has admitted “I did it” while being interrogated after his arrest on September 4, while his mother has claimed to have warned the school around half an hour before the attack took place.

In the bodycam footage of the 2023 visit—released by the sheriff’s office on Monday, and shared online by NBC and other outlets—Gray denied posting the comments on Discord, assuring them: “I would never say something like that,” and insisting that he had deleted his account on the chat platform several months earlier.

One of the deputies responded by telling the teenager: “I got no choice but to take you at your word right now, but like I was telling your dad if we found out otherwise, then it’s a different story.”

Colt’s father, Colin Gray also appears in the footage, telling officers that despite being bullied his son was “doing really good” at school. Colin Gray has since been arrested on four counts of manslaughter, two of second-degree murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children in the wake of the killings earlier this month.

The father told officers during the visit last year that his son had been struggling with family-related stress at the time, following his parents’ separation and subsequent eviction from their home.

He added that he’d been training his son in the “responsible” use of firearms, taking him on hunting trips in an effort to get him out of the house and to stop playing video games.

“We do a lot of shooting, we do a lot of deer hunting. He shot his first deer this year,” Gray is heard to say in a longer clip of the interview, shared by CNN. “I don’t know anything about him saying sh-t like that [but] I’m gonna be mad as hell if he did,” he added.

Colt’s grandfather, Charles Polhamus, has since described Colin as “evil,” alleging he drove the 14-year-old “to do what he did” last week through a relentless campaign of psychological and physical abuse. His aunt, Annie Polhaumus Brown, has also spoken about her nephew’s troubled childhood, and vowed to stand by him at trial.

If convicted, Colt faces up to life in prison, with his father facing a maximum total of 180 years behind bars.

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Georgia

Georgia judge is found dead in courtroom on final day on bench

Published

1 hour ago

January 1, 2025

Press Room

Georgia judge is found dead in courtroom on final day on bench

Jurors tackle convict outside Maine courthouse

Nicholas Carter, who was convicted of assaulting a 14-month-old, ran out of the courthouse in handcuffs on Sept. 11, 2024, only to be recaptured by two jurors across the street, security video shows. (Credit: Somerset County/TMX)

This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Police are investigating after a Georgia state judge was found dead in a courtroom on Tuesday.

The Effingham County Sheriff’s deputies said in a release that they found State Court Judge Stephen Yekel, 74, on Tuesday morning.

He appears to have died by suicide, with a self-inflicted gunshot, the sheriff’s office said.

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Effingham County Sheriff’s deputies said in a release that they found State Court Judge Stephen Yekel, 74. (State Court Judge Stephen Yekel via Facebook)

His death is being investigated by the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation will perform the autopsy.

Authorities said Yekel died sometime late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.

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Yekel, who was appointed to the bench two years ago by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, lost his election bid earlier this year.

His term was scheduled to end Dec. 31, 2024.

Judge Stephen Yekel, 74, was found dead, with suspected self-inflicted gunshot wounds, at the Effingham County Courthouse in Springfield, Georgia. (Google Maps)

In a statement, the Effingham County Board of Commissioners said that they were “deeply saddened” by Yekel’s death.

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“The Effingham County Board of Commissioners and staff are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Judge Steve Yekel at the Effingham County Courthouse today, and we offer our condolences to his family and loved ones,” they said.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Effingham County Board of Commissioners for comment.

Sarah Rumpf-Whitten is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business.

Story tips and ideas can be sent to sarah.rumpf@fox.com and on X: @s_rumpfwhitten.

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Georgia

Duncan Powell, Javian McCollum each score 21 as Georgia Tech beats Notre Dame 86-75

Published

10 hours ago

December 31, 2024

Press Room

Duncan Powell, Javian McCollum each score 21 as Georgia Tech beats Notre Dame 86-75

Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) — Duncan Powell and Javian McCollum each set a season-high with 21 points and they combined for five of Georgia Tech’s eight 3-pointers in an 86-75 victory over Notre Dame on Tuesday.

Georgia Tech shot 61% from the field in the first half to build a 43-24 lead as Notre Dame was just 9 of 32 (28%). The Fighting Irish’s 24 first-half points are tied for the fewest allowed by Georgia Tech in an opening period this season.

Notre Dame had runs of 11-0 and 11-3 in the second half and got as close as 69-66 with 5:53 remaining. But the Irish would not get closer.

Georgia Tech won for just the third time in the last 13 meetings with Notre Dame — a stretch that included losing all three matchups last season.

Lance Terry added 14 points, Naithan George had 11 and Baye Ndongo scored 10 for Georgia Tech (7-7, 1-2 ACC). The Yellow Jackets had a 44-15 advantage in bench points.

Tae Davis led Notre Dame (7-6, 1-1) with 27 points and seven rebounds. Matt Allocco had 15 points and seven assists and Braeden Shrewsberry scored 12 on four 3-pointers.

Notre Dame’s only lead was at 12-11 early in the first half.

Georgia Tech closes a five-game homestand on Saturday against Boston College. Notre Dame hosts North Carolina on Saturday.

___

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Georgia

Celebration of Life plans announced for former Georgia senator Vincent D. Fort

Published

18 hours ago

December 31, 2024

Press Room

Celebration of Life plans announced for former Georgia senator Vincent D. Fort

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ATLANTA – Celebration of Life and internment plans have been announced for former Georgia State Senator Vincent D. Fort, who died Sunday at the age of 68.

Fort was first elected to the State Senate from the 39th District in 1996 and was reelected 10 times. He represented parts of Atlanta, East Point, College Park, Union City, and unincorporated Fulton County.

PREVIOUS: Former Georgia Sen. Vincent Fort dies at 68

During his tenure, Fort served as the Democratic Whip in the Senate and was a member of the Appropriations, Judiciary-Civil, Judiciary-Criminal, Education and Youth, Reapportionment and Redistricting, Interstate Cooperation, Urban Affairs, and MARTA Oversight Committees. He also chaired the Retirement Committee, Interstate Cooperation Committee, and the Fulton County Senate Delegation.

Fort authored Georgia’s first hate crimes law in 2001, designed to provide enhanced penalties for defendants who intentionally selected their victims due to bias or prejudice. That same year, he authored a predatory lending law, which became the foundation for the strongest legislation of its kind, passed in 2002. Fort gained national recognition as a leader in the fight against predatory lending and foreclosures. He also authored a law that increased disabled access to housing.

Additionally, Fort secured $40 million in funding for buildings at Atlanta Technical College and Atlanta Metropolitan College.

In 2017, Fort ran unsuccessfully for mayor against Keisha Lance Bottoms. In 2022, he ran for Georgia’s 13th congressional district.

Details:

Lying in State: Jan. 3, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Atlanta City Hall, old council chambers, 68 Mitchell Street.
Family Hour and Masonic Last Rites: Jan. 3, 6 p.m., at Willie A. Watkins Funeral Home, West End Chapel.
Celebration of Life: Jan. 4, 1 p.m., at Lindsay Street Baptist Church, 550 Lindsay Street NW, Atlanta.
Interment: South-View Cemetery, Jonesboro Road.

The family requests donations in lieu of flowers. Contributions may be made to:

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