The 14-year-old charged with murder in the school shooting in Georgia was given an AR-15 style rifle by his father after they were interviewed by law enforcement about threats to carry out a school shooting, but were not arrested due to lack of evidence. The shooting at Apalachee High School resulted in four fatalities, with the teenager being charged as an adult. The father, Colin Gray, was arrested for allowing his son to possess a weapon and faces multiple charges. The teenage suspect had shown interest in prior mass shootings, including the Parkland massacre in 2018.
Law enforcement had received a tip in May 2023 about threats on Discord, but did not find evidence linking the teenager to the online account. The investigation was later closed due to inconsistencies, such as the account being associated with the teen’s email but not phone number. The teen denied making threats and expressed concern over false accusations. Authorities had alerted local schools to monitor the teen, but it is unclear if this was done at Barrow County schools where he later enrolled.
Sheriff Jud Smith stated that previous tips about the teen had been properly investigated, but a student at the high school expressed frustration at the lack of preventative action. The incident has raised questions about monitoring individuals who show potential risk and has sparked discussions about civil rights versus public safety.
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