Colt Gray, who was 14 when he fatally shot two students and two teachers at Apalachee High School in September 2024, pleaded guilty to murder on Friday. Portions of a police interview, conducted after the shooting, were played in court during his sentencing hearing, revealing the then-teenager's emotional state and his struggles to explain his actions.
During the interview, Gray sobbed as he recalled the events, stating, "He didn't even know, dude. He was looking the other way and I just shot him." He expressed remorse for the impact of his actions, saying he had "probably affected thousands of people" and that "this is f***ing horrible."
Gray suggested he had "no control over these impulses" and recalled a moment in the bathroom before the shooting where he thought, "I probably shouldn't do this." He described the shooting itself as, "The next thing I know I'm f***ing shooting in a classroom, dude."
He told investigators he was not trying to justify his actions with his mental state, stating, "I'm not trying to get remorse at all." Gray also claimed he believed his teachers were against him, whispering and plotting, and that he "wanted to do something to get them away from me."
He further recounted hearing voices in his head that were "egging him on" and telling him "it's okay and I did the right thing." The victims of the shooting were identified as teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, and students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14. Another teacher and eight students were wounded.
When asked what should happen to him, Gray responded, "Honestly, I think I should be put in a mental health unit" for his safety and the safety of others, until he could get on medication. He described his actions as "beyond horrible" and expressed confusion and shock regarding his motives.
Gray also revealed an obsession with Nikolas Cruz, the perpetrator of the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, stating he felt he understood Cruz's trauma on an emotional level. Gray admitted to creating an account on a jail messaging app to contact Cruz about a week and a half before the shooting, but received no response. A shrine dedicated to Cruz was found in Gray's bedroom.
Gray used a SIG Sauer M400 rifle for the attack, stating he "just grabbed whatever was closest." He also revealed that he had asked his father to hide his guns days before the shooting, but found them later. Gray stated he had been "thinking about it for years" and that his mental struggles had worsened. He mentioned that he and his father had made a doctor's appointment for him shortly before the incident.
In March, Gray's father, Colin Gray, was convicted of 29 counts, including second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. His sentencing is scheduled for July 30. Colt Gray's sentencing hearing is ongoing, with prosecutors and the defense set to present further evidence and testimony as a judge determines his sentence, which could include life with or without parole.