The FBI has confirmed that the 13-year-old alleged shooter responsible for killing two students and two teachers and wounding nine others at a Georgia high school had been on its radar as a possible threat since last year. The FBI’s Atlanta field office and Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received an anonymous tip in May 2023 about threats posted online regarding a possible school shooting. The threats contained images of guns, and investigators determined that they originated in Georgia. The matter was referred to the sheriff’s office, and authorities interviewed the boy and his father, who denied making the threats. There was no probable cause for arrest at that time.
Colt Gray, now 14, was identified as the shooter who killed two students and two teachers at Apalachee High School. He surrendered to authorities and was taken into custody following the rampage. Gray is expected to be charged as an adult with murder. Authorities are still investigating to determine if anyone was specifically targeted, but they are not aware of any known connections between Gray and the victims. The FBI had referred the threat to the Jackson County Sheriff’s office when Gray was 13 years old, as the family resided in Jackson County at that time. Georgia authorities have not released the identities of the deceased and wounded victims.
A woman named Katie Phenix came forward on Facebook to explain that her father, David Phenix, had been shot at Apalachee High School. David Phenix was shot in the foot and hip, shattering his hip bone. He was alert and stable after undergoing surgery. The Barrow County School System will close all its schools for the remainder of the week while cooperating fully with law enforcement. Grief counseling will be available for the students and staff of the district. The shooting has prompted emotional responses from the community as they grapple with the tragic events that occurred at the high school.
Authorities had been aware of the shooter as a possible threat since last year when the FBI received an anonymous tip about threats posted online. The shooter and his father were interviewed by law enforcement, but no further action was taken at the time due to lack of probable cause. Colt Gray, identified as the shooter, is now expected to be charged as an adult with murder. Investigators are still exploring the shooter’s possible motivations and connections to the victims. The school community is reeling from the tragedy and working to support each other during this difficult time.
The shooter had been under investigation by authorities since last year and was found to have hunting guns in his house, although he did not have unsupervised access to them. The shooter, now identified as Colt Gray, was the same subject referred to in the threat reported to the FBI in May 2023. The family had since relocated to Barrow County. Gray surrendered to authorities following the shooting at Apalachee High School and is expected to face charges for the deadly incident. The school district is closed for the week to allow for law enforcement cooperation and the provision of grief counseling to those affected by the tragedy.
The shooting at Apalachee High School has left two students and two teachers dead, with nine others wounded. The shooter has been identified as Colt Gray, who is expected to face charges for murder as an adult. The community is grieving and receiving support from the school district and law enforcement. The tragedy has sparked emotional responses from individuals connected to the victims and has highlighted the need for increased vigilance and preventive measures to address threats of violence in schools. The investigation is ongoing as authorities seek to understand the circumstances surrounding the deadly shooting at the Georgia high school and provide justice for the victims and their families.
