Georgia school shooting: New audio recording of alleged shooter, father’s meeting with police over 2023 online threats

Georgia authorities have released the audio recording of the 2023 visit to the home of the alleged Georgia high school shooter after an anonymous report to the FBI about online threats regarding “a possible threat to shoot up a middle school” in a group chat on the messaging app Discord surfaced.

Jackson County, GeorgiaSheriff’s officers spoke face-to-face with the boy who is now charged with murder in the deaths of four people at Apalachee High School in Winder on Wednesday.

Sheriff’s officers described their interactions in a detailed investigative report from May 21, 2023, when suspect Colt Gray was 13, after being tipped off by the FBI about a threat on the messaging app Discord, popular with some video gamers, to shoot up a middle school.

When the police begin questioning Colin Gray, the father reveals more about Gray’s family life and the accusation, claiming that the visit is a blunder and a terrorist threat.

COLIN GRAY, FATHER OF GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING SUSPECT, CHARGED WITH MURDER, INVOLUNTARY HOMOLOGATION AND CHILD CRUELTY

The suspected shooter was identified as Colt Gray, a 14-year-old student. (Barrow County Sheriff’s Office)

“He’s going through a lot… it’s very difficult for him to go to school and not be bothered,” Colin said.

Colin tells the officer that he and Colt’s mother divorced and they were deported.

“At first, he had a hard time accepting the separation. I take him to school. He goes to Jefferson Middle School. He’s doing very well there,” Colin explains.

The officer acknowledges the seriousness of the visit and Colin agrees and says that Colt “knows how serious this is, trust me.”

Colin claims he went to the school several times, attributes it to other kids touching his son, and says Colt wanted to leave the school district.

Colin then claims that he is constantly harassed and talks about the importance of gun safety.

“Let me ask you this: Do you have any weapons in the house?” the officer asks.

“I do,” Colin said.

Who is the alleged Georgia school shooter? What we know

From left: Math teachers Richard Aspinwall and Christina Irimie were killed at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, along with Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, authorities said. (Fox News)

“Are they accessible?” the officer then asks.

“They’re… I mean, there’s nothing loaded, but they’re… we shoot a lot, we hunt a lot of deer. He shot his first deer this year,” Colin said. “I feel like I’m in shock… I’m really pissed off to be honest with you.”

“I’m a little surprised by all this, but I can tell you one thing: I take it very seriously and so does he,” Colin says.

“I don’t know anything about what he said. And I would be furious if he did, and all the guns would disappear and he wouldn’t have access to them,” Colin continued. “You know, I’m trying to be honest. I’m trying to teach him about guns and safety, and teach him how to use them, and get him interested in the outdoors.”

“Take him away from the video game,” the officer replies.

“Yes, exactly. That’s right. He’s the best. The truth is, the picture on my phone shows him with blood on his cheeks when he shot his first deer. It’s the best day of his life,” Colin says. “So of course he knows the seriousness of guns, what they can do and how to use them and not use them.”

GEORGIA OFFICERS INTERROGATED SUSPECT IN 2023 APALACHEE HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING, COULD NOT JUSTIFY THREAT

A person kneels before flowers placed outside the entrance to Apalachee High School on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Winder, Georgia, a day after deadly shootings at the school. (AP Photo/Charlotte Kramon)

“So it’s a bit of a shock. So whatever you say to him, please make him understand that whatever it is or wherever it comes from, it’s not a joke. No, it’s not a joke,” Colin continued.

“We wouldn’t be here,” the officer said.

“No, I know, I know, and I’m telling you right now, we talk about it a lot. All the school shootings, things that happen. Yeah, I heard you were getting bullied at school. That’s true. He’s getting bullied at school. And. Is everything okay? That’s why I keep going. No. You know, because you never really know. And I don’t want anything to happen to him, so. Yeah. Yeah,” Colin finished.

The officer then asks to speak to Colt and Colin agrees to meet him.

Colt enters the room and the officer tells him that a report will be made. The officer seems to take Colt at his word, and they even joke about people lying to the police.

The officer and Colt exchanged small talk about school, finishing school, and moving on to high school.

Colin Gray, 54, faces multiple charges for the alleged actions of his son, Colt Gray, 14, including four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder and eight counts of child cruelty.

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On Thursday, authorities said the elder Gray knowingly allowed his son to possess a gun.

He is being held at the Barrow County Jail.

Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano and Timothy Nerozzi contributed to this report.