The father of Georgia school shooter Colt Gray has reportedly been sent numerous threats as he sits behind bars for his role in the massacre that killed four people earlier this month.
The 14-year-old shooter was allegedly provided the rifle used in the attack by his father Colin, age 54, who is facing eight counts of cruelty to children and four counts of involuntary manslaughter. These charges are the most significant ever lodged against the parent of an accused school shooter.
Now that he is held in custody, Gray is apparently receiving an “incalculable number of threats,” leading his legal team to file a motion to have the inmate separated from the rest of the criminals held in the jail because they believe other inmates share similar sentiments. They could pose a threat to Gray for harboring “feelings of anger and retribution” towards him.
The father’s lawyers argue that “it would be reckless” to act under the assumption that nobody housed in the prison now or down the road who would “wish to harm” Gray. They emphasized how many people in Barrow County have been impacted in “unfathomable ways.”
Gray may stick around in the Barrow County Detention Center for a long time, as a judge has already said he could be in jail for up to 180 years if convicted of all the charges against him. While the defendant’s legal team is trying to protect him from those who are angry at him, others believe he has everything coming to him for his role in the shooting that killed four and hospitalized nine.
Charles Polhamus, the 81-year-old grandfather of Colt and former father-in-law of Gray, claimed that the father led to the boy’s shooting spree. He said that the 14-year-old was “driven by his father” to commit the horrific crime and, while he acknowledged that his grandson “has to pay” for his actions, emphasized that there is “no question” about what led him to behave in such a way.
Colt was reportedly living with his father at the time of the shooting. His parents separated two years ago following being evicted from their home.
