Father of accused Apalachee High shooter returns to court ahead of trial

WINDER, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — The father of the accused Apalachee High School shooter returned to court on Thursday for a final motions hearing before his trial in February.

Colin Gray is accused of giving his son, 14-year-old Colt Gray, access to the rifle used in the shooting that killed four people and wounded nine others.

Colin faces nearly 30 charges, including two counts of second-degree murder and 19 counts of cruelty to children. He pleaded not guilty.

On Thursday, prosecutors called up witnesses, who answered questions pertaining to motions filed in the case. The judge also discussed lingering logistics ahead of the trial.

WATCH THE HEARING HERE:

Meanwhile, Colt, who faces more than 50 charges, has no trial date yet and is awaiting the results of a mental health evaluation.

RELATED: Medical evaluations underway for accused Apalachee High School shooter

Colin’s attorneys have tried to get his case dismissed several times but have not been successful.

In previous hearings, his attorneys argued that statements Colin gave to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation were not freely or voluntarily given and that officers searched his home without a warrant.

Colin’s attorneys have also argued his indictment was too vague and lacked facts.

“It does not put us on notice of exactly what we have to defend. It does not allege probable cause, or foreseeability of this knowledge,” Jimmy Berry, Colin’s attorney, said.

On Thursday, prosecutors called on GBI Special Agent Kelsey Ward, who interviewed Colin the day of the shooting, to testify.

Ward said Colin agreed to speak with her.

Ward also said Colin offered to show her his phone, which contained text messages he had sent to and received from Colt, as well as emails about getting counseling for his son.

She said Colin signed a consent form to cease his phone.

“I presented him with a consent to search form, which is a GBI document, and explained what that meant, in which we would extract the information from his cellular device using a software program, and review that information,” Ward said.

An investigator with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office also testified about speaking with Colin in 2023 after receiving a tip from the FBI about a school shooting threat.