Latest news with #ColinGray
CNN
02-08-2025
- CNN
Father of Georgia school shooter had letter from son ‘asking for forgiveness' on day of the shooting, testimony reveals
The father of the accused Apalachee High School shooter was in possession of a letter from his son asking for forgiveness on the day of the shooting, an investigator testified during a court hearing Friday. Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special Agent John Giunta testified law enforcement officers conducting a protective sweep of Colin Gray's home saw a letter from his son in which 'Colt was asking for forgiveness.' Attorneys for the father argued during a Friday motions hearing that statements and evidence collected shortly after the shooting should not be used in trial. The hearing in Winder, Georgia, took place just after students at Apalachee High School started their first day back at school, just a few miles away. It's been almost 11 months since the mass shooting left two students and two teachers dead, as well as nine people injured, about 50 miles outside of Atlanta. Gray's attorneys told a judge a protective sweep when deputies arrived at the Gray home the morning of the shootings was more of a search and was done prior to a warrant being issued. 'Not only did he see the letter, he obviously read it. Because he gave that information to the GBI agent who was getting the search warrant,' defense attorney Jimmy Berry said. 'That is a search.' The content of the accused shooter's letter was used in part to get a search warrant, Berry told Judge Nicholas Primm. 'It was an illegal search,' Berry said. 'It was not a protective sweep' 'If the magistrate used that in his decision to issue the search warrant, then the search warrant itself is bad,' Berry told the court. 'If you give information that's bad in a search warrant it invalidates it.' State investigators testified they secured and executed a search warrant for the home on September 4, the same day as the mass shooting. District attorney Brad Smith rebutted that the sweep was necessary to protect the law enforcement officers at the house and that Colin Gray had verbally given permission to search the home. One of the deputies who spoke to Colin Gray at his home following the shootings testified that Gray was calm and spoke to him voluntarily. Portions of Deputy Brandon Bazinet's body camera video were played in court. In the video Gray says, 'If you just need OK, you all can go. You don't need a search warrant there ain't nothing there to hide. And it's clear it has something to do with my son. I just want to make sure he is not hurt.' While speaking with an officer in the video, Colin Gray says, 'I know it's bad,' as he worried about the physical condition of his son. The defense said the statements were not made voluntarily. They claim Colin Gray had been moved away from his home amid 'corrosive police activity.' Portions of a second video were played in court of Gray speaking to investigators during an interview the day after the shootings. In the video, Gray speaks with a deputy casually, talking about how his name had been handed down through his family. Barrow County Sheriff's investigator Jason Smith testified that during the taped interview authorities were in the process of obtaining a warrant for Gray's arrest, which he said he did not know at the time. Colin Gray has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder – alleging that he shares responsibility for the September shooting at Apalachee High School, where four people were killed. Colin Gray is facing 29 charges in total; he has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Judge Primm said he will rule on the motions to suppress the statements made by Colin Gray and whether the search warrant was valid within the month. Colin Gray is only the third person charged in the US in connection with a school shooting by their child. Investigators previously testified in court that Colin Gray bought the AR-15-style rifle allegedly used in the school shooting for Colt Gray as a Christmas present last year, only seven months after the family was questioned by law enforcement over online threats 'to commit a school shooting.' His trial had been scheduled to start this fall but was pushed back due to scheduling conflicts with his defense team. A new trial date for Colin Gray has not been set yet. Colin's son Colt is accused of killing four people and injuring others. He was 14 at the time of the shooting has been indicted on 55 felony counts. Authorities have said that Colt admitted to the shooting, according to court records. Attorneys for Colt told the court earlier this year that he may change his not guilty plea and is considering a plea deal. CNN's Ryan Young contributed to this report
CNN
01-08-2025
- CNN
Father of Georgia school shooter had letter from son ‘asking for forgiveness' on day of the shooting, testimony reveals
The father of the accused Apalachee High School shooter was in possession of a letter from his son asking for forgiveness on the day of the shooting, an investigator testified during a court hearing Friday. Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special Agent John Giunta testified law enforcement officers conducting a protective sweep of Colin Gray's home saw a letter from his son in which 'Colt was asking for forgiveness.' Attorneys for the father argued during a Friday motions hearing that statements and evidence collected shortly after the shooting should not be used in trial. The hearing in Winder, Georgia, took place just after students at Apalachee High School started their first day back at school, just a few miles away. It's been almost 11 months since the mass shooting left two students and two teachers dead, as well as nine people injured, about 50 miles outside of Atlanta. Gray's attorneys told a judge a protective sweep when deputies arrived at the Gray home the morning of the shootings was more of a search and was done prior to a warrant being issued. 'Not only did he see the letter, he obviously read it. Because he gave that information to the GBI agent who was getting the search warrant,' defense attorney Jimmy Berry said. 'That is a search.' The content of the accused shooter's letter was used in part to get a search warrant, Berry told Judge Nicholas Primm. 'It was an illegal search,' Berry said. 'It was not a protective sweep' 'If the magistrate used that in his decision to issue the search warrant, then the search warrant itself is bad,' Berry told the court. 'If you give information that's bad in a search warrant it invalidates it.' State investigators testified they secured and executed a search warrant for the home on September 4, the same day as the mass shooting. District attorney Brad Smith rebutted that the sweep was necessary to protect the law enforcement officers at the house and that Colin Gray had verbally given permission to search the home. One of the deputies who spoke to Colin Gray at his home following the shootings testified that Gray was calm and spoke to him voluntarily. Portions of Deputy Brandon Bazinet's body camera video were played in court. In the video Gray says, 'If you just need OK, you all can go. You don't need a search warrant there ain't nothing there to hide. And it's clear it has something to do with my son. I just want to make sure he is not hurt.' While speaking with an officer in the video, Colin Gray says, 'I know it's bad,' as he worried about the physical condition of his son. The defense said the statements were not made voluntarily. They claim Colin Gray had been moved away from his home amid 'corrosive police activity.' Portions of a second video were played in court of Gray speaking to investigators during an interview the day after the shootings. In the video, Gray speaks with a deputy casually, talking about how his name had been handed down through his family. Barrow County Sheriff's investigator Jason Smith testified that during the taped interview authorities were in the process of obtaining a warrant for Gray's arrest, which he said he did not know at the time. Colin Gray has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder – alleging that he shares responsibility for the September shooting at Apalachee High School, where four people were killed. Colin Gray is facing 29 charges in total; he has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Judge Primm said he will rule on the motions to suppress the statements made by Colin Gray and whether the search warrant was valid within the month. Colin Gray is only the third person charged in the US in connection with a school shooting by their child. Investigators previously testified in court that Colin Gray bought the AR-15-style rifle allegedly used in the school shooting for Colt Gray as a Christmas present last year, only seven months after the family was questioned by law enforcement over online threats 'to commit a school shooting.' His trial had been scheduled to start this fall but was pushed back due to scheduling conflicts with his defense team. A new trial date for Colin Gray has not been set yet. Colin's son Colt is accused of killing four people and injuring others. He was 14 at the time of the shooting has been indicted on 55 felony counts. Authorities have said that Colt admitted to the shooting, according to court records. Attorneys for Colt told the court earlier this year that he may change his not guilty plea and is considering a plea deal. CNN's Ryan Young contributed to this report
Irish Examiner
20-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
How sustainability is transforming RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Cut flowers and sustainability have long been viewed as incompatible. But a new wave of eco-conscious floristry is transforming the way florists are growing, sourcing and designing their bouquets. Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword, but the foundation of the designs blooming at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show. 'The RHS have endorsed no foam,' says Colin Gray, managing director of Lavender Green Flowers. 'That's going across RHS Chelsea Flower Show and Chelsea in Bloom.' That shift is more than symbolic. In 2025, sustainability isn't just a preference but an expectation. 'If it's out of season, there's no place for it — certainly not at the RHS," says Gray. Still, this purist approach comes with challenges. 'We've had some struggles with it this year, with this unique weather we've had,' says Gray. But ultimately, it's a growing pain worth enduring. One standout trend is the integration of plants with cut flowers — a strategy that adds longevity and a more layered, living aesthetic. 'It allows a legacy of a display to go on,' explains Gray. Legacy is a recurring theme in Gray's ethos. 'We actually ensure 90% of our flowers go on to charitable donations post-event,' he says. 'Giving displays a second life — sending them to charities or using them at events — extends their impact well beyond showtime.' Donating flowers after events helps prolong the display (James Manning/PA) Many sustainable practices have been in development for years, championed by the RHS. 'No dyed flowers, no faux within reason, no foam — those have become habits we've adopted over time.' Gray also highlights the rise of recycled and repurposed materials in displays— concrete vases, fabrics and structures — along with the growing rejection of single-use plastics. This year, sourcing locally is a top priority, as is buying from "sustainable farms that manage water well, use renewable energy, and consider transport emissions', adds Gray. Sourcing flowers from British farms helps cut emissions (Joe Giddens/PA) Foam, once a staple in floral displays, is being actively replaced. 'There's no reason to be using foam at all,' says Gray. 'We're trialling a new product called Phoam Labs — now on its fifth iteration — but it's not about a straight swap. It's about changing how we think.' Even moss, a common alternative, isn't perfect. 'Moss is a potential carbon sink,' Gray warns, 'so taking it from forests raises its own environmental concerns.' Instead, he prefers water-based designs: 'Water is key. We would never use [foam] for something like this.' Visually, sustainable floristry is redefining what people expect to see at events like the RHS Chelsea Flower Show with a more "local" and "wild" look. 'We've come a long way from big, blousy designs,' says Gray. Foliage has also emerged from the background to take centre stage. '[Florists are] using foliage less as a secondary element, allowing it to really lead the design.' This wilder, foraged aesthetic includes flowers that might be found in hedgerows rather than greenhouses. 'Unusual flowers — ones people may see in the wild — are gaining popularity over iconic peonies and roses,' Gray notes. Displays at Chelsea this year aim to strike a balance between Instagram-worthy visuals and deeper ecological responsibility. 'It will be a combination of both,' says Gray. 'We're seeing shapes and designs that are a bit more unusual but still seasonal.' 'It will be creating more of a designed look profiling seasonality, but also creating shapes and designs that are perhaps unusual.' Celebrating seasonality also brings the potential of more interesting displays. 'There is more excitement that we can give,' says Gray, 'using things like bearded irises, as opposed to classic irises — or the varieties that people don't necessarily see.' Celebrating seasonality means more floral varieties – pictured: Benton Iris (James Manning/PA) Biodiversity is a growing concern, especially among those cultivating wildflower farms. 'Avoiding pesticides and protecting soil integrity is key,' says Gray. 'If we're using plants, we're making sure we're not using peat.' For home gardeners looking to embrace sustainable floristry, Gray's tip is to embrace the wild and the wonderful. 'There is a thing called No Mow May — using wildflowers and meadows and allowing the garden to partially rewild itself during the season.' He also encourages people to turn their gardens into cutting gardens. 'There's real joy in bringing your own flowers into the home and celebrating your garden's success.' When it comes to the future of our flowers, Gray urges gardeners to plant for the future. 'London, specifically, is going to be the same temperatures in 2050 as Barcelona.' As such, 'we should start to think about drought-tolerant [plants] that are going to be a more natural choice for the environment that is coming.' As the climate crisis reshapes our world, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is proving that beauty and responsibility can thrive side by side. From ethical sourcing to inventive, low-impact design, floristry is evolving, and for Gray, the future is clear: 'We should be putting plants into the future, rather than just for this year or next year, based on fashion.'
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
When is trial date for father of accused shooter at Apalachee High School?
Barrow County Superior Court Judge Nicholas Primm this week signed an order setting Sept. 8 as the trial date for Colin Gray, the father of the 14-year-old youth charged with killing two students, two teachers and wounding nine others at Apalachee High School. The mass shooting occurred Sept. 4 at the high school in Winder, where the suspect Colt Gray was a ninth-grade student. Colin Gray, 54, gave his young son the AR-15 style rifle as a Christmas gift, according to court records. He faces a 29-count indictment that include charges of second-degree murder and reckless conduct. A trial date for Colt Gray on numerous murder and aggravated assault charges has not been set, as pretrial motions are still underway. The elder Gray remains in jail, although Primm gave him a $500,000 bond in February, but the judge stipulated that 10% of the amount must be a cash bond. Colin Gray has been granted a change of venue for the trial, a motion that was supported by the defense team led by attorney Brian Hobbs and and the prosecutors Piedmont Circuit District Attorney Brad Smith and chief assistant Patricia Brooks. In Tuesday's order, the judge told the lawyers he wanted their pre-trial motions filed by July 15. The judge also said he wanted to see a complete witness list and the jury selection questions that each side proposes for potential jurors by Aug. 15. If he has a problem with any question, he would discuss those with the lawyers. The judge has not set a date for deciding on locations for the change of venue, but has told lawyers he will make a decision, which includes moving the trial to another county or bringing jurors from another county to Barrow County. The jury would be sequestered during the trial. Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith testified earlier that there are 75 deputies on the witness list from his office and that will have an impact on his office if they must leave the county for the trial. Primm has noted that the trial for Colin Gray is expected to take about three weeks, so he has to find a courthouse that will accommodate that timeframe as well as finding a courthouse with the needed technology to present evidence. This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Trial date set for father of teen accused in Apalachee High shootings
09-05-2025
Wisconsin dad charged in school shooting is latest parent accused in gun violence
A Wisconsin man charged with crimes for a school shooting committed by his daughter is the latest U.S. parent taken to court for violence caused by a child. Prosecutors have extended responsibility beyond shooters if they believe there is evidence that a parent contributed to the violence. The charges against Jeffrey Rupnow include intentionally giving a dangerous weapon to a person under 18 causing death. In December, his daughter, Natalie Rupnow, 15, killed a student and a teacher at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, and killed herself. Rupnow was due to appear in court Friday. A look at other cases: Jennifer and James Crumbley were the first U.S. parents held criminally responsible for a mass school shooting committed by a child. They are serving 10-year prison terms for involuntary manslaughter. Their son, Ethan Crumbley, killed four students and wounded others at Michigan's Oxford High School in 2021. The school revealed his violent drawings to the Crumbleys a few hours before the shooting, but they declined to take him home. No one checked his heavy backpack for a gun. The Crumbleys were not aware of their son's plans, but they had given a gun as a gift a few days earlier. Prosecutors said Ethan's actions were foreseeable and that the Crumbleys had failed to prevent the violence. Robert Crimo Jr. pleaded guilty to misdemeanors for endorsing his son's Illinois gun permit in 2019 despite knowing that Robert Crimo III had expressed suicidal thoughts. Three years later, Crimo III killed seven people at a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, a suburb north of Chicago. 'He was criminally reckless the moment he submitted that affidavit,' prosecutor Eric Rinehart said of the father. Crimo Jr. was sentenced to 60 days in jail. His son is serving a life prison sentence after pleading guilty in March to murder. In Georgia, Colin Gray is awaiting trial on charges of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter for the deaths of two students and two teachers last year at Apalachee High School in Winder. Gray gave his son, Colt Gray, an assault-style firearm as a gift and was aware that the child's mental health had deteriorated, investigators said. Colt Gray had a shrine above his home computer for the gunman in the 2018 Parkland, Florida, school massacre, according to prosecutors. Colin Gray has pleaded not guilty. In a separate case, his son has pleaded not guilty to murder charges. Deja Taylor was prosecuted in state and federal court after her 6-year-old son took her gun to school and wounded a teacher in a classroom full of students in Newport News, Virginia, in 2023. Taylor was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for a drug-related crime connected to possessing a gun. Separately, she was sentenced to two years in state prison for child neglect. 'That is my son, so I am, as a parent, obviously willing to take responsibility for him because he can't take responsibility for himself,' Taylor told 'Good Morning America' in 2023. The teacher, Abigail Zwerner, told a judge she wasn't sure 'whether it would be my final moment on Earth.'
