Mother of teen charged in Georgia school shooter apologizes to victims' families, says son is 'not a monster'

The mother of the 14-year-old boy charged with fatally shooting two students and two teachers at Georgia’s Apalachee High School last week penned an open apology letter to the families of her son’s alleged victims.

“To the parents and families of those affected by the tragic events at Apalachee High School, I want to say that I am so sorry from the bottom of my heart,” Marcee Gray wrote in the letter shared with CNN.

“As a parent, I’ve always said that the loss of one of my children would be the only thing that I wouldn’t be able to come back from,” she continued. “I feel all of your pain and devastation. I grieve and cry with you.”

Colt Gray and his father were taken into custody last week after the teen opened fire Wednesday morning on students and faculty at his high school in Windsor, roughly 50 miles outside Atlanta.

Colin Gray, 54, is accused of giving his troubled son the rifle he allegedly used to take the lives of four people. Nine others were hospitalized following the Sept. 4 shooting spree.

According to the boy’s mom, she would switch places with the children her son is accused of killing if she could.

“I will personally never forgive myself for what has happened,” Marcee Gray wrote, but insisted her son “is not a monster.”

“He is my oldest baby,” she said. “He is quiet, thoughtful, caring, funny, and extremely intelligent.”

Neighbors and relatives have accused Marcee and her ex-husband of making their son’s home life miserable. Marcee has a rap sheet dating back at least 17 years, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, while Colin Gray has been accused of verbal and emotional abuse.

The pair reportedly separated in 2022, and Colt “struggled” with the split, according to his dad. The mother moved out and the teen was living with his father at the time of the shootings.

Marcee Gray said she notified school officials before the shooting that her son sent a text message indicating something bad was about to happen. They were not able to stop him in time. The shooter surrendered quickly when confronted by school resource officers.

Colt Gray has been charged with four counts of felony murder and will be tried as an adult.

“Please pray for him and the rest of our family, as I am praying for all of you every moment of every day,” Marcee Gray asked of the victims and their families.