Teen pleads guilty in 2024 Georgia school shooting that killed four

Colt Gray, now 16, pleaded guilty to 55 charges including four counts of murder for the September 2024 shooting at Apalachee High School that killed two students and two teachers Source: AP News. The plea, entered in a Barrow County court on Friday, was a 'non-negotiated plea,' meaning sentencing is left entirely to Judge Nicholas Primm Source: AP News.

The Plea

Gray, who was 14 at the time of the attack, admitted to the shootings after being questioned by the judge about the voluntariness of his plea, responding 'Yes, your honour' each time Source: Al Jazeera. He faces a minimum sentence of life in prison, with the judge to decide whether parole is possible after hearing victim impact statements Source: The Guardian.

Victims and Family Speak

Multiple victims and family members addressed the court. Shayna Aspinwall, wife of slain teacher Richard Aspinwall, described the attack as handing families 'a life sentence of grief and trauma' Source: The Guardian. Breanna Schermerhorn, whose son Mason was killed, told the judge she did not forgive Gray, saying, 'Those decisions were his and his alone' Source: Al Jazeera. A wounded student recalled feeling 'really scared and confused' when she saw Gray with a gun Source: The Guardian.

Father's Conviction

Gray's father, on charges including second-degree murder for giving his son the assault-style rifle used in the attack and is scheduled to be sentenced next week . He faces 10–30 years per murder charge, part of a broader push to hold parents accountable in school shootings .