ATLANTA — Colin Gray has requested a new trial following his conviction and sentencing in connection with the shooting at Apalachee High School. Gray was sentenced to 15 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter.

Gray's attorneys filed the request on August 6, 2026. In a court filing, they stated that the jury's guilty verdict is not supported by the evidence and is "contrary to law and the principles of justice and equity." The defense seeks to overturn the convictions based on these asserted legal deficiencies.

The convictions stem from a trial that concluded earlier in 2026. A jury in March found Gray guilty of second-degree murder in the deaths of Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo. Both victims were 14 years old at the time of the incident.

The jury also found Gray guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the killings of Richard Aspinwall and Cristina Irimie. Aspinwall was 39 years old, and Irimie was 53 years old.

During the proceedings, prosecutors presented evidence regarding the weapon used in the shooting. Prosecutors said Gray gave his son the semiautomatic rifle as a Christmas gift along with ammunition and other shooting accessories. This transfer of the firearm and related items formed a central part of the state's case against the parent.

The legal basis for the murder charges relied on specific state statutes. Georgia law defines second-degree murder as causing the death of a child by committing the crime of cruelty to children. This definition allowed prosecutors to pursue murder charges against Gray for the deaths of the two students, distinct from the manslaughter charges related to the two teachers.

The sentencing of Gray follows the conviction of his son, Colt Gray. Gray was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for his role in the shooting. PureSource News previously reported that a judge set a July 2026 plea hearing for Gray in the Georgia shooting case, preceding his final sentencing.

Apalachee High School is located near Winder, Georgia. The school sits approximately 45 miles (70 kilometers) northeast of Atlanta. Gray is one of a handful of American parents who have been criminally charged after their children were accused in shootings.

Why It Matters

As one of a handful of American parents criminally charged after their children were accused in shootings, Colin Gray's case tests the legal boundaries of parental liability. The prosecution's reliance on Georgia's cruelty to children statute to secure a second-degree murder conviction establishes a specific precedent for holding parents accountable for firearm access. A successful appeal could alter how similar charges are pursued against guardians nationwide.