The grandfather of a 14-year-old boy accused of killing four people at a Georgia high school last week has spoken out, saying that the teen’s “evil” father shares responsibility for the tragic event.
“I understand that Colt [Gray] did it, and he needs to pay the ultimate price,” Charles Polhamus, the boy’s maternal grandfather, told local station 13WMAZ. “I understand that and I don’t disagree with that, but his dad is as guilty as Colt is.”
Colt’s father, Colin Gray, was arrested last Thursday and now faces charges including four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Authorities believe that Gray’s abusive behavior played a significant role in the violent tragedy.
Polhamus, 81, explained that Colt had endured years of verbal abuse from his father. “His dad beat up on him,” Polhamus told CNN. “I’m not talking about physical, but screaming and hollering, and he did the same thing to my daughter.” He described Colt as a “good kid” who had been raised in a hostile environment.
The family’s difficult past came into focus following the shooting. According to reports from The New York Times, the Grays were evicted from their home in 2022 due to financial troubles, partly stemming from Colin Gray’s struggles with addiction after a back injury. Colt’s mother, Marcee, also battled substance abuse issues. Though the parents are now separated, Colt was living with his father at the time of the attack.
In an interview with the New York Post, Polhamus did not hold back his feelings toward Colin Gray, calling him “evil” and directly blaming him for driving Colt to commit the school shooting. “That’s as plain as I can put it, and I know I’m right,” Polhamus said, adding that Gray deserved “the death penalty.”
Colin Gray faces up to 180 years in prison if convicted, while Colt is being charged with four counts of murder and will be tried as an adult. If convicted, the teen could face life in prison.
Reports also suggest that Colt’s turbulent home life may have contributed to his actions. A neighbor revealed that Colt and his sister were sometimes locked out of their home by their mother, leaving them to bang on the door in distress. Meanwhile, Polhamus told the Post that Colt’s mother, Marcee, had called Apalachee High School just an hour before the shooting, warning of an “extreme emergency.” She reportedly received a text from Colt that simply read, “I’m sorry mom.”
As the community grapples with the tragedy, the family’s troubled history continues to emerge, shedding light on the circumstances that may have contributed to this devastating act of violence.