Judge moves Colt Gray trial out of Barrow County, plea still possible

BARROW COUNTY, Ga. - Colt Gray, who is accused of killing four people during a mass shooting at Apalachee High School in 2024, returned to a Barrow County courtroom on Thursday morning for a status hearing.

Colt Gray in court

What we know:

During the hearing, Judge Nicholas Primm approved moving the teen's murder trial out of Barrow County and outlined a possible timeline for both plea negotiations and a future jury trial.

A change of venue for the trial was requested because of the intense publicity surrounding the case. The judge said Columbia County, near Augusta, is currently the leading candidate to host the trial because it falls outside the Atlanta media market. 

The judge said courthouse renovations in Columbia County are expected to be completed in time for a possible trial beginning in mid-October and potentially extending into early November. Prosecutors estimated the case could take about two weeks, while the defense said it expects to call between three and five witnesses.

Apalachee HS shooting plea deal?

What they're saying:

Attorneys also spent significant time discussing a possible plea timeline. 

Judge Primm said he plans to impose a plea deadline during the final week of July in an effort to avoid burdening another jurisdiction with extensive trial preparations only for a guilty plea to be entered at the last minute.

Defense attorney Charlton Allen contested the timing restrictions during Thursday's hearing. "I do think it would be a due process problem if the court refused to allow him to enter a plea following that, if he changes his mind, we're set for trial, and then he wants to enter plea," Allen said. 

Judge Primm emphasized the logistical strain that late-stage changes place on outside counties. "I want to avoid a situation where we burden another jurisdiction to make all these arrangements to clear out their courtroom, summon their jurors early, and then, you know, the eve of a guilty plea is entered," Primm explained. 

Gray's defense attorney objected to the idea of a plea deadline, arguing it could create due process concerns if Gray later decided he wanted to plead guilty after the cutoff date. The judge responded that defendants have a constitutional right to a jury trial but not necessarily an unrestricted right to enter a guilty plea.

The hearing comes months after the case slowed while the court awaited the results of Gray’s mental health evaluation. It remains unclear whether the defense plans to challenge his competency to stand trial.

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Apalachee High School shooting

The backstory:

Authorities said Gray walked into Apalachee High School on Sept. 4, 2024, carrying an AR-15-style rifle and opened fire. 

The mass shooting killed 14-year-old student Christian Angulo, 14-year-old student Mason Schermerhorn, 53-year-old teacher Cristina Irimie and 39-year-old teacher Richard Aspinwall. 

Seven additional people suffered injuries during the campus attack, and Gray was subsequently charged with four counts of felony murder.

Father convicted of enabling attack

Dig deeper:

The teen's father, Colin Gray, was found guilty in March on 27 felony counts, including second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and cruelty to children. 

Prosecutors successfully argued that the father enabled his teenage son by providing access to the weapon used in the school assault. 

Jurors listened to details regarding the younger Gray's severe mental health struggles and viewed video footage of the high school attack during the father's trial.

July sentencing hearing

What's next:

Following his conviction in March, the older Gray is scheduled to return to court for a consecutive two-day sentencing hearing in late July. 

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