The FBI reportedly investigated a 14-year-old who allegedly carried out a school shooting in Georgia over previous threats.
Two students and two teachers were tragically killed during a mass shooting at Apalachee High School on Wednesday morning.
The alleged shooter, Colt Gray, 14, opened fire inside the school around 10:30AM, according to officials at a Wednesday evening press conference, cited by the New York Post.
The victims were identified as two 14-year-old students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angelo, along with two math teachers, Richard Aspinwall and Christina Irimie.
Gray was on the FBI’s radar for over a year, following an investigation into online threats related to school shootings, federal authorities disclosed.
The FBI’s Atlanta field office revealed in a statement Wednesday night that in May 2023, they received anonymous tips regarding threats of violence at an unnamed school. These disturbing online posts reportedly included images of firearms.
Following these tips, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office identified Gray, who was 13 at the time, as a potential suspect. Both Gray and his father were interviewed.
Gray’s father acknowledged that he kept hunting guns in the house but assured investigators his son did not have unsupervised access to them, according to the FBI’s statement.
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Gray also denied making the threats, and authorities did not find probable cause to take further action. However, local schools were notified to continue monitoring the teen.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is now investigating whether the 2023 online threats are linked to Wednesday’s tragic shooting at Apalachee High School.
“This is not recent. This is in the past, but we wanted to bring that to your attention because we are pursuing that, working with the FBI on this in any connection to that incident that could be connected to today’s incident as well,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey during a press briefing Wednesday night.
Hosey also confirmed that Gray’s family had been in contact with local child protective services, and investigators are exploring whether this has any relevance to the case.
“We are pursuing that avenue as well to see if that has any connection with today’s incident,” he added.
Gray surrendered to two school resource officers who responded to the scene and was immediately taken into custody. His motive remains under investigation, and authorities have since interviewed Gray, his family, and others associated with him, per CNN.
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith expressed uncertainty over the motive, saying, “I don’t know why it happened. We may never know.”
Gray will be charged as an adult with multiple counts of murder, according to officials.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp addressed the community’s grief in a press conference at the scene of the shooting Wednesday night.
“This is everybody’s worst nightmare,” Kemp said. “These are our neighbors. These are our friends. And this community is hurting today.”
Kemp urged Georgians and Americans to keep those affected in their thoughts, adding: “I would just ask all Georgians and all Americans to continue to keep these families, these educators, and these students in your thoughts and prayers.”
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