US state trial begins for Georgia father of teenage school shooter News
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US state trial begins for Georgia father of teenage school shooter

The trial for the father of the teenager accused of the 2024 shooting at Apalachee High School began Monday, as prosecutors argue the father is culpable for giving his son the gun despite having notice of his son’s previous threats.

The father, Colin Gray, faces 29 counts, including two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of involuntary manslaughter, and multiple counts of second-degree cruelty to children. Barrow County District Attorney Brad Smith opened the prosecution’s case, stating:

This is not a case about holding parents accountable for what their children do. This case is about this defendant and his actions in allowing a child that he has custody over access to a firearm and ammunition after being warned that that child was going to harm others.

The son, Colt Gray, was 14 years old at the time of the shooting and had been gifted a semiautomatic rifle and an elongated magazine a year prior from his father. Multiple sources warned Colin Gray of alarming statements made by his son related to gun violence yet still provided Colt access to the semiautomatic weapon. Colt’s maternal grandmother had expressed concern for Colt’s obsession with Nikolas Cruz, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter. Authorities had also tracked Discord posts made by Colt that reference Sandy Hook Elementary School shooter Adam Lanza.

In September 2024, Colt boarded his school bus with a semiautomatic rifle in his book bag, hidden in poster board, and proceeded to take the rifle out of his bag during second period and begin shooting. Colt killed two students and two teachers, and severely injured seven others.

The case follows the historic case of Jennifer and James Crumbley, parents of a teenage school shooter in Michigan who were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for ignoring their son’s mental health issues and purchasing the gun used by their son in a 2021 school shooting. Several other cases are in process around the country trying to hold parents responsible for gifting firearms in similar circumstances.

THIS DAY @ LAW

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On February 18, 1943, the Nazi government of Germany arrested the two leaders of the White Rose movement, brother and sister Hans and Sophie Scholl. The White Rose was a German group, primarily comprised of students, that advocated non-violent resistance to the Nazi government in Germany. After the Scholls were arrested, the remaining members of the White Rose were captured by the end of 1943. The Scholls were convicted of treason on February 22, 1943, and sentenced to death. Read the pamphlets spread by the members of the White Rose.

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