A 14-year-old boy from Georgia who opened fire in his school, killing two students and two teachers, was raised in a troubled and abusive household, according to family members and neighbors. The young shooter, identified as Colin Gray, used an AR-15 rifle gifted to him by his father for Christmas, despite being previously investigated by police in 2023 for making threats to shoot people at his school.
Reports indicate that Gray’s father, Colin Gray Sr., purchased the weapon for his son, even though authorities had previously flagged the teen for violent threats. The teen’s mother, Marcee Gray, was regularly arrested on charges ranging from drug possession to domestic violence, contributing to a chaotic and unsafe environment for the young shooter and his siblings.
Neighbors described Marcee as neglectful, stating that she frequently locked her children, including Colin, out of the house. One neighbor recalled hearing the children crying and banging on the back door, begging to be let inside. “They would be banging on the back door, just screaming like ‘Mom! mom! mom!’ and crying. It was absolutely devastating,” a neighbor told the New York Post, noting that the children would often seek food from neighbors due to neglect at home.
Marcee’s legal troubles span over 17 years and include charges related to domestic violence, drug use, property damage, and DUI violations. A neighbor reported seeing her passed out in her car with loud music blaring in the early hours of the morning. On multiple occasions, she allegedly drove her younger son to daycare while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Despite the unstable environment, neighbors noted that Gray himself rarely spoke about the abuse and did not exhibit overt aggression. “He wasn’t a bully or a mean kid. He didn’t say much. He was so quiet,” one neighbor remarked. They also recalled seeing him skipping school and wandering around the neighborhood or nearby forest, often alone.
The shooter’s maternal grandfather blamed the boy’s father for contributing to the toxic home environment. He stated that the elder Gray would yell and berate both his wife and his son, but did not physically abuse them. “His dad beat up on him, not physically, but screaming and hollering, and he did the same thing to my daughter,” the grandfather said in an interview with CNN. Despite the hostile environment, the family said Colin never exhibited signs of anger or aggression prior to the tragic shooting.
Gray’s aunt revealed that the teenager had been battling mental health issues for months leading up to the incident. She told the Washington Post that her nephew had been “begging for help from everybody around him” but did not receive the support he needed.
This devastating shooting has raised concerns about gun ownership, mental health, and the impact of neglectful and abusive homes. Authorities are investigating the case, looking into how the troubled family background contributed to the tragedy.
Sources By Agencies
