"FBI Atlanta Confirms Prior Investigation into Apalachee High Shooter Colt Gray for Threats Last Year"

 

The FBI's Atlanta Division revealed on Wednesday night that Colt Gray, the 14-year-old suspect in the Apalachee High School shooting, had been investigated a year prior for making threats. In May 2023, the National Threat Operations Center received anonymous tips about potential online threats involving a school shooting, though the specific location and time were not identified at that point. The threats included images of firearms, and after an investigation, the FBI traced the posts back to Georgia, specifically Jackson County. The matter was handed over to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, who subsequently interviewed Colt Gray and his father. Gray's father acknowledged having hunting firearms in their home but assured authorities that Colt did not have unsupervised access to them. Despite this previous investigation, no further action was taken at the time, leaving questions about whether the tragedy could have been prevented.

At the time of the investigation, authorities found no probable cause to justify an arrest or further legal action against Colt Gray, according to the FBI's post. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office, after interviewing Gray and his father, notified local schools to monitor the situation closely, though no immediate threat was identified. Apalachee High School, where the tragic shooting occurred, is located in Barrow County and not part of the Jackson County school system, raising questions about Gray's movements between districts. It remains unclear whether Gray attended a school in Jackson County before transitioning to the Barrow County School District. GBI Director Chris Hosey confirmed during a 9 p.m. news conference that Gray was the 14-year-old suspect responsible for the deaths of two teachers and two students, as well as the injuries of nine others at Apalachee High School.