Family and Neighbors Describe Neglect and Abuse
In a shocking revelation, Colt Gray, the 14-year-old Georgia boy who tragically opened fire in his school, killing two students and two teachers, was raised in a deeply troubled home, according to family and neighbors.
Father bought AR-15 rifle despite previous threats
Colin Gray, the father of the shooter, reportedly bought him the AR-15 rifle used in the attack as a Christmas gift. This alarming decision came despite police investigating the teen in 2023 for threatening to shoot people at his school.
Mother’s troubling criminal history
The boy’s mother, Marcee, had a lengthy criminal record, with arrests spanning 17 years for charges including domestic violence, drug possession, property damage, and multiple traffic violations, including driving under the influence. Neighbors described her as neglectful and abusive towards her children.
Neglect and abuse
A neighbor recounted the harrowing neglect the children faced, saying, “They would be banging on the back door, just screaming like ‘Mom! mom! mom!’ and crying. It was absolutely devastating.” The neighbor added that the children would sometimes beg for food from neighbors.
Another neighbor painted a grim picture of Marcee’s substance abuse issues: “I would find her in the driveway, passed out, with the car running and blaring music early in the morning.” The neighbor also noted that Marcee would drive her younger son to daycare while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
A quiet, troubled boy
Neighbors described the shooter, Gray, as a quiet and non-aggressive child who often missed school and wandered around the empty house or nearby forest. “He wasn’t a bully or a mean kid. He didn’t say much. He was so quiet,” one neighbor said.
Gray’s maternal grandfather blamed the boy’s father for the hostile environment, saying, “His dad beat up on him, I mean, I’m not talking about physical, but screaming and hollering, and he did the same thing to my daughter.” Despite this, the grandfather noted that Gray never showed any signs of anger.
Mental health struggles
Gray’s aunt told the Washington Post that her nephew had been struggling with mental health issues and had been “begging for help from everybody around him” months before the tragic shooting.
This deeply distressing account from family and neighbors paints a picture of a young boy caught in a cycle of neglect and abuse, raising critical questions about the factors contributing to such a devastating event.