# Possible school shooting ~40mi NE of Atlanta (9/4/2024) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** breaking-news\ **Created:** [September 4, 2024, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-school-shooting-40mi-ne-of-atlanta-9-4-2024/1006755 "2024-09-04T15:51:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-school-shooting-40mi-ne-of-atlanta-9-4-2024/1006755/62 "2024-09-06T17:06:41Z")
Not picking on you Beck, but it sure looks like the school had little to no chance. Although, perhaps, because we now know a lot more due to additional reporting. > **[Colt Gray, 14, identified as suspect in Apalachee High School shooting: What...](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/09/05/apalachee-shooting-georgia-colt-gray/75082680007/)** > > Authorities identified 14-year-old Colt Gray as the alleged shooter who killed two classmates and two teachers at a high school in Georgia. > During an interview with investigators in May 2023, Gray’s father, Colin Gray, said his 13-year-old son “had some problems” at a previous middle school he attended, according to investigative records. > > The father told investigators – who were looking into threats of a school shooting made online – that the situation had “gotten a lot better” since his son began attending Jefferson Middle School. He had previously attended West Jackson Middle School. > > The boy’s father said he and his wife divorced and his family had been evicted from a prior address. After the eviction, he and his son moved into a new home, and his wife moved elsewhere with their two younger children, the report said. > > Gray recently began attending Apalachee High School in Barrow County, which sits to the south of Jackson County, between the cities of Atlanta and Athens. Just snipping the section on his prior issues at school for fair use. So it looks like we’re talking three different schools in the immediate past - one where he was likely a known issue, one where he was doing better (both Middle) and his current High School (unclear if he’s a brand new freshman from reporting or upperclassman). So the first middle school probably had good reason to know, second maybe, maybe not, but especially if a freshman, the High School may not have had a chance to evaluate the student past any reporting that was passed along. This did apparently happen on or near the first day of class. Personally, I blame the shooter and his father first and foremost. The shooter, obviously, the father for his obviously fictional account of his son’s access to the existing firearms, followed by the unforgiveable sin of purchasing the new AR platform and not securing it. I have some minor sympathy for the pre-shooter boy who had a terrible, abusive mother from current reporting, and who didn’t get the help they needed. But by the time they were (probably, not yet proven) lying to the FBI about the threats they were making online last year, that kid knew what he was doing. I’m not sorry that he’s being tried as an adult - and _certainly_ not sorry that his father is being held accountable. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-school-shooting-40mi-ne-of-atlanta-9-4-2024/1006755/63 "2024-09-06T17:10:56Z")
I have incredible sympathy for the shooter who had nothing but a crap life and now will spend the rest of it in prison. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-school-shooting-40mi-ne-of-atlanta-9-4-2024/1006755/64 "2024-09-06T17:11:12Z")
Dumb question; was it legal for the father to buy an AR-15 for his minor son? ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-school-shooting-40mi-ne-of-atlanta-9-4-2024/1006755/65 "2024-09-06T17:24:16Z")
Is Colt a normal name? Does anyone know a person called Colt in person? ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-school-shooting-40mi-ne-of-atlanta-9-4-2024/1006755/66 "2024-09-06T17:26:00Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > People who are not familiar with gunfire in a real world context often expect shots to sound resonant and dramatic like they do in movies and television. In reality, gunshots often sound flat, like someone slapping a bag of water. Yeah, but… I was an earwitness to [the 1989 Michael Kwong murder in Massachusetts](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/11/06/metro/michael-kwong-1989-arlington-unsolved-murder/), and I was pretty sure it was gunshots I was hearing. Maybe if it had been a busy daytime setting I might not have jumped to that conclusion so promptly, though. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-school-shooting-40mi-ne-of-atlanta-9-4-2024/1006755/67 "2024-09-06T17:26:24Z")
Apparently it was legal for the father to buy the gun. Can’t understand why he didn’t ping on the application. That’s another Fail. I’m sure he didn’t tell the dealer/seller he was giving it to a 13-14yo. If it is found he did, does the _reputable_ (?) gun seller have any responsibility? Of course, he could have bought it from an individual. That will come out, I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-school-shooting-40mi-ne-of-atlanta-9-4-2024/1006755/68 "2024-09-06T17:26:39Z")
I knew a Colt a few years ago. It’s a rare name, but not completely unique. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-school-shooting-40mi-ne-of-atlanta-9-4-2024/1006755/69 "2024-09-06T17:29:44Z")
Legal to buy an AR-15 but is it legal to give one to a minor? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-school-shooting-40mi-ne-of-atlanta-9-4-2024/1006755/70 "2024-09-06T17:36:33Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I have incredible sympathy for the shooter who had nothing but a crap life and now will spend the rest of it in prison Lots of people have crap childhoods and never hurt anyone. Fuck that kid. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-school-shooting-40mi-ne-of-atlanta-9-4-2024/1006755/71 "2024-09-06T17:40:11Z")
I understand that. I just think to stop this school shooting trend, or at least limit it, we must do something different. What we are doing isn’t working. It must be stopped. This should be a priority. I understand law enforcement has to be reactive. They successfully limited drunk driving, fixed seatbelt non-compliance. It can be/should be stopped. If law enforcement can’t they need to find another way. The average human being has got to know this kid was a problem. If folks with badges, creditials, powers to step in doesn’t know, there’s the problem. Maybe this kid was always gonna be a time bomb waiting blow, this is where we failed him. And people died. It’s sad that we can keep criminals in a prison but we can’t keep criminals out of schools and other soft targets. It’s got to stop. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-school-shooting-40mi-ne-of-atlanta-9-4-2024/1006755/72 "2024-09-06T17:56:22Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Lots of people have crap childhoods and never hurt anyone. Fuck that kid. Yes fuck that child who had the great misfortune to have shit parents fuck him and pat ourselves on the back as another child is thrown away in America. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-school-shooting-40mi-ne-of-atlanta-9-4-2024/1006755/73 "2024-09-06T17:57:13Z")
He threw himself away. Fuck that kid. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-school-shooting-40mi-ne-of-atlanta-9-4-2024/1006755/74 "2024-09-06T18:08:43Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Does anyone know a person called Colt in person? A friend of my daughter has a son named Kolt. Colt McCoy was a quarterback at Texas who had a 13-year career in the NFL, primarily as a backup. It’s not a common name by any means, but I wouldn’t consider it uncommon, either. > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > What we are doing isn’t working. You mean thoughts and prayers aren’t working? /s ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-school-shooting-40mi-ne-of-atlanta-9-4-2024/1006755/75 "2024-09-06T18:09:25Z")
There is a frontier that, once crossed, your misfortunes offer no safe conduct pass. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-school-shooting-40mi-ne-of-atlanta-9-4-2024/1006755/76 "2024-09-06T18:16:37Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > It can be/should be stopped. If law enforcement can’t they need to find another way. > The average human being has got to know this kid was a problem. If folks with badges, creditials, powers to step in doesn’t know, there’s the problem. > > Maybe this kid was always gonna be a time bomb waiting blow, this is where we failed him. And people died. I think (and keeping it to the scope of a breaking news thread) that everything that could help in terms of the immediate risk in _the existing system_ (please note italics) was done. The threats were investigated, and we’ll assume that the appropriate paperwork was filed for the firearm purchase. Both though were likely knowingly foiled by the actions of the two people currently being arrested, by lying to the FBI about the threats and who had possession and access to both the new and existing firearms. An unreported issue so far though is how the shooter brought the firearm TO campus, which is/should be a sign of at least some failure on the part of the school, although I don’t know what the local requirements/arrangements are. Absolutely (and this is far as I want to go again in breaking news) we could use new legislation to prevent such things, and more funding for counseling and awareness at schools, but that’s P&E territory. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-school-shooting-40mi-ne-of-atlanta-9-4-2024/1006755/77 "2024-09-06T18:23:44Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > He threw himself away. Fuck that kid. Yes as a disturbed child he absolutely had all the tools to succeed at life. Fuck that child. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-school-shooting-40mi-ne-of-atlanta-9-4-2024/1006755/78 "2024-09-06T18:29:11Z")
Please. He’s not a toddler. Is he as developed as he’s ever going to be at 14? Of course not. Is he capable of knowing right from wrong? Absolutely he is, and frankly I’m offended at your attempt to characterize him as some innocent victim. He intentionally murdered 4 people. It wasn’t any mistake or misunderstanding. _He intentionally murdered 4 people and was clearly intent on murdering as many more as he possibly could._ FUCK. THAT. KID. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-school-shooting-40mi-ne-of-atlanta-9-4-2024/1006755/79 "2024-09-06T18:31:37Z")
[namegrapher.com](http://namegrapher.com) shows the popularity of “Colt” increasing since the 1970s, with a substantial uptick since about 2000. It peaked at about 500 per million around 2020. [![](https://greenwoodsoftware.com/misc/colt.png) ](https://greenwoodsoftware.com/misc/colt.png) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-school-shooting-40mi-ne-of-atlanta-9-4-2024/1006755/80 "2024-09-06T18:43:35Z")
What’s with the bleached, orangish hair? Didn’t the theater shooter guy have that? Is this a clue? Normal troubled kid. The next week he comes to class with a bad home bleach job. Clown orange. Cue alarms. Get that kid suspended or at least, detention. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-school-shooting-40mi-ne-of-atlanta-9-4-2024/1006755/81 "2024-09-06T18:52:26Z")
That’s a thing. I’m sick of all these LE and Mayors coming on TV saying how great the community is, just oh so wonderful, “we’re a god fearing, family community. We’re praying for the families” Yeah? Guess what? You let this kid fall through the cracks. You didn’t step up. One person. A teacher or counselor or social worker shoulda said something. Done something. Thoughts and prayers do not help the families. It’s too late. Their loved one is dead. We as a human race, let this happen. (Before I get moderation on this, I’ll shut up) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-school-shooting-40mi-ne-of-atlanta-9-4-2024/1006755.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-school-shooting-40mi-ne-of-atlanta-9-4-2024/1006755.md?page=5)