The attorneys for the father of Apalachee High School shooter Colt Gray filed a motion for a new trial.
A judge sentenced Colin Gray to 15 years in prison July 30 after he was found guilty on 27 charges, including two counts of second-degree murder.
The attorneys for Colin Gray argued the verdict was contrary to the evidence, and moved for a new trial within 30 days.
The school shooting happened in September 2024. In March of this year, a jury found the dad guilty of failing to restrict Colt Gray’s access to guns despite the child showing signs of violence.
“He is a complete failure as a father,” said Junior Angulo. “He made a choice to buy that rifle. He made a choice to ignore every red flag.”
His brother, Christian Angulo, died inside the school.
The second student killed was Mason Schermerhorn. Both were 14.
Schermerhorn’s mother, Breanna, pointed out the warning signs missed.
A total of 11 people gave victim-impact statements to the judge.
During sentencing, the judge told Gray, “It is clear you failed as a parent.”
RELATED STORIES:
- Apalachee school shooting: Father of shooter sentenced to 15 years in prison
- Families of students killed in Apalachee shooting find support in each other, honor legacies
- ‘Hopefully the healing will start’: Barrow County Sheriff weighs in on sentence of Apalachee shooter
- Apalachee school shooter Colt Gray sentenced to life without parole
- Judge: ‘Four lives were stolen,’ says Apalachee school shooter killed them ‘for infamy of it’
He pointed to the dad’s failure to send his son to school, provide a stable household and get him counseling. He pointed out the father had gun locks.
“You could have removed the ammo and magazines from the house,” said Primm. “If you had done any of those things, Ms. Irimie, Mr. Aspinwall, Mason and Christian would be here today.”
He told the courtroom since the father did not technically intend for his son to commit mass murder, he must sentence him based on criminal negligence.
That does not require a mandatory prison sentence.
So, he sentenced the father to 15 years for each of the students’ deaths, 10 years for each of the teachers’ deaths and 11 years for the child cruelty and reckless conduct convictions.
“Colin should be sentenced for what he did, not what his son did,” said Brian Hobbs, Colin Gray’s defense attorney.
That’s a total of 61 years in prison. However, the judge is allowing the father to serve them concurrently, at the same time. That adds up to 15 years in prison with the possibility of parole.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
©2026 Cox Media Group
