Colt Gray, 16, pleaded guilty Friday to all 55 charges he faced in connection with a mass shooting at his Georgia high school in September 2024. The charges include murder and aggravated assault.
Gray entered a non-negotiated guilty plea, meaning no plea agreement was reached. The judge will consider arguments from both the state and the defense to determine a sentence, which could range from life with parole to life without parole. At the time of the shooting, Gray was 14 years old.
The shooting at Apalachee High School resulted in the deaths of two students and two teachers, with several others injured. Breanna Schermerhorn, whose son Mason Schermerhorn was killed in the incident, delivered a victim impact statement. She described Mason as kind, compassionate, funny, and protective, noting his advocacy for those who struggled or were overlooked. "He made people that were typically unseen feel seen, accepted and safe," she said of her son.
Schermerhorn also stated that had Gray attended school, "Mason would have befriended him." She added that Gray knew his actions were wrong and would forever alter lives.
Officials reported that the rifle used in the shooting was a Christmas gift from Gray's father, Colin Gray. In March, Colin Gray was convicted of charges including second-degree murder and manslaughter, marking the first instance of a parent in the U.S. being convicted of murder related to their child's alleged actions.