Colt Gray pleads guilty in Apalachee shooting case

[00:00:00] Speaker 1: To a story we're following this morning out of Barrow County, you're looking live inside the courtroom this morning, Barrow County Superior Court, where we have already seen Judge Nicholas Prem enter the bench. I believe we are just now also seeing Colt Gray right there. You see dyed his hair dark from the first time we saw him a couple of years ago. He, of course, today is at the center of this hearing. The accused Appalachee High School shooter, the shooting that happened nearly two years ago in Winder in Barrow County. He's accused of killing four people, two teachers, two students. And this morning, in this hearing, we could see him enter a non-negotiated plea deal. Let's listen in as court is getting started. [00:00:38] Speaker 2: Can you put your name on the record, please? Okay. What I need you to do is, is that my phone off the phone? It's off the phone. Now, if you don't mind turning it on, make sure you're in the hearing. [00:00:52] Speaker ?: And how old are you, Mr. Murray? 16 years old? [00:00:56] Speaker 2: You're represented by Mr. Charlton Allen, standing next to you. Yes, ma'am. Mr. Allen, if I'm correct, you've been representing him since the beginning of the year or so. Yes, Judge, I was retained on December 18th. Mr. Gray, my understanding is you were performing this morning because you've been sent it for a guilty plea to the indictment. Is that accurate? [00:01:19] Speaker ?: Yes, ma'am. [00:01:20] Speaker 2: I'm going to go over some very important rights with you before you enter a guilty plea, okay? Yes, ma'am. So, understand that the decision to be guilty has to be voluntary on your part. No one can force you to enter a guilty plea because you have an absolute right to a jury trial. [00:01:36] Speaker ?: Yes, ma'am. [00:01:36] Speaker 2: So, if you wanted a jury trial, you would have seen one. You have one scheduled in October. You understand that? Yes, sir. Um, understand that Mr. Allen would represent you throughout the jury trial. You understand? Yes, sir. And that that trial, if you presumed this, you could not be convicted unless the state was able to prove your guilt to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. Do you understand that? Yes, ma'am. Um, understand that Mr. Allen would have the right to confront and cross-examine each and every witness that testifies against you? [00:02:08] Speaker ?: Yes, ma'am. [00:02:10] Speaker 2: Do you understand that you would have a right to subpoena your own witnesses to testify on your behalf? [00:02:15] Speaker ?: Yes, ma'am. To testify on your own defense if you wanted to? Yes, ma'am. So, that no one could force you to testify on the trial because you have a right to remain silent on the trial? Yes, ma'am. [00:02:25] Speaker 2: If you chose not to testify, the jury would be instructed that they could not use your silence against you in any manner in your deliberations in which you have heard. Yes, ma'am. That's your ma'am. Um, now, also understand that if you had a trial and there were any legal errors that occurred during the course of the trial, you have a right to file an appeal for any of those legal errors. Do you understand that? Yes, ma'am. If you were very guilty, however, as you're about to waive and give up each of the rights that just saw it. Yes, ma'am. Do you understand each of these rights? Yes, ma'am. Do you have any questions about them whatsoever? No, ma'am. Do you wish to voluntarily give up those rights and enter a guilty plea today? Yes, ma'am. And that's a decision that you're making with your own free will because that's how you decided you want to resolve your case? Yes, ma'am. Mr. Allen, have you completed a complete sheet? [00:03:28] Speaker ?: Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. [00:03:29] Speaker 2: Yes, Mr. Gray, let me look at that document real quick. Do you recognize it? Yes, ma'am. All right. Mr. Allen. So, Mr. Gray, I'm holding up the document that you just identified. Did you, in fact, recognize the document? Yes, sir. Did you review it in its entirety with Mr. Allen? Yes, sir. Is this your signature on the back side of the document? Mr. Allen, when you put on the record, how do you review it with him? [00:04:05] Speaker 3: Well, we had a conversation yesterday on the phone where he was looking at a copy, and I was on my office, and then we went through it line item by line item by explaining each item to him. This morning, when he came in, I took that same document and went back over it, and he put his initials on each one of those answers that we sent before. [00:04:28] Speaker 2: Mr. Gray, is that accurate? Yes, sir. So, Mr. Gray, on the form, in the next key to the number of questions, there's an initial CG. Did you place those initials, or did Mr. Allen? I placed them. So, Mr. Gray, do you have any questions whatsoever about any of the rights or advisings contained in this form? No, you're right. So you understood it? Yes, sir. Mr. Allen, do you have any concerns that Mr. Gray is not understanding any of the rights of people using their supplementary materials in place? [00:05:07] Speaker 3: No, you're not. He's fully capable of making these decisions. [00:05:12] Speaker 2: Mr. Gray, are you presently under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any other substance? No, you're not. For any reason, are you supposed to be taking medication? Yes, sir. Have you had access to that medication? Yes, sir. Have you been taking it as prescribed? Yes, sir. So, you have a treatment provider, and you're following their recommendations, is that right? Yes, sir. Are you able to take the medication yesterday? Yes, sir. Are you taking medication today? Yes, sir. Are you feeling all right today? Yes, sir. Do you have any mental health issues or mental health disabilities? Yes, sir. Is that why you're taking medication? Yes, sir. All right. Your mind's clear? Yes, sir. And again, your mental health treatment provider, you're following their recommendations as well. Oh, is that right? Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Mr. Greger, are you a citizen of the United States? Yes, sir. Mr. Smith, say, what charges does Mr. Greger willing to be able to do today? All 55 charges. All 55 counts and indictments. Mr. Allen, I'm assuming that you have reviewed the entire indictment with Mr. Greger. Yes, sir. Mr. Greger, are you all aware of all of the charges in the indictment? Yes, sir. Do you have any questions about any of those charges? No, Your Honor. This is a 55 count indictment, if I'm saying it's not right. Yes, sir. So, Mr. Allen, you've reviewed all 55 charges with Mr. Greger. Yes, sir. Mr. Greger, do you understand all 55 charges? Yes, sir. Do you understand that you would be pleading guilty to the entire indictment today? Is that right? Yes, sir. Now, as I understand it, I want to discuss the maximum and minimum punishment that you're [00:07:05] Speaker ?: okay? Yes, sir. So, do you understand, and I'm just going to correct you if I'm wrong, the minimum punishment [00:07:11] Speaker 2: that you're facing with the charges that you're pleading guilty to is a life sentence that could be quarreled? Yes, sir. The maximum punishment that you're facing is the rest of your life in prison without rule. Do you understand that? Yes. Counseling is going to be bad. No, you're right. I'm sorry about that. All right. Now, this is a non-negotiated guilty plea. Is that right? Yes, sir. Yes, sir. So, Mr. Gray, you understand that with a non-negotiated guilty plea, there's no plea deal. That the state will present a case and make the argument for what they think the appropriate sentence is. And Mr. Allen will do the same. I mean, both sides have the opportunity to present witnesses, evidence in aggravation, evidence in litigation. Do you understand that? Yes, sir. Do you understand that the sentence is solely for you to decide? Yes, sir. And once the sentence is pronounced, you understand that you have no right to withdraw guilty plea. Yes, sir. [00:08:20] Speaker ?: All right. [00:08:22] Speaker 2: Now, as I indicated, plea guilty has to be voluntary on your part. With that in mind, has anyone forced you, threatened you, or coerced you in any manner to get you plea guilty today? [00:08:34] Speaker ?: No, you're right. [00:08:34] Speaker 2: Have you been promised or offered anything whatsoever that's causing you to be guilty today? No, you're right. Have you had sufficient time to discuss the case with Mr. Allen and tell him everything you want me to know about the case? Yes, sir. Are you satisfied with the legal representation and advice you've been given? Yes, sir. All right, Mr. Smith, you're going to get a factual basis for the charges. [00:09:01] Speaker 4: Your Honor, as a point of order, the original indictment was under seal. I believe we've given you an order to unseal that. Can I? [00:09:09] Speaker 2: I have signed the order. Do you have the answer? [00:09:13] Speaker 4: I do, so I will unseal it. Your Honor, counts 1 through 12 go towards the four deceased victims. They consist of malice murder in Barrow County on September 4, 2024, that unlawfully and with malice aforethought caused the death of a human being by shooting them with a firearm. Felony murder in Barrow County on the same date, while in the commission of a felony, that felony being aggravated assault, it caused the death of a human being. An aggravated assault in Barrow County on the same date, it would make an assault upon the person of another with a firearm, a deadly weapon. As the counts 1, 2, and 3, the malice murder, felony murder, and aggravated assault for the victim of Christian Angulo. Counts 4, 5, and 6, which are the malice murder, felony murder, and aggravated assault for the victim, Richard Aspinwall. Counts 7, 8, and 9, the malice murder, felony murder, and aggravated assault for the victim, Anna Christina Girameen. Counts 10, 11, and 12, for the malice murder, felony murder, and aggravated assault for the victim, Mason Schirmerhorn. Our counts 13 and 14 are for the injured adult. That would be David Phoenix. Count 13, being aggravated assault in Barrow County on the same date, didn't make an assault upon the person of another with a firearm, a deadly weapon. Aggravated battery, an aggravated battery, an aggravated battery, an aggravated battery in Barrow County on the same date, that maliciously caused bodily harm to David Phoenix, by seriously disfiguring his body, by shooting him with a firearm. There are accounts 15 through 23, are for the children who were injured in the assault. That meaning, the charges being aggravated assault in Barrow County on the same date, didn't make an assault upon the person of another with a firearm, a deadly weapon. Aggravated battery in Barrow County on the same date, did maliciously cause bodily harm to another person, by seriously disfiguring said person's body, by shooting them with a firearm. And cruelty to children in the first degree, that in Barrow County on the same date, did maliciously cause a child under the age of 18 years, cruel and excessive physical and mental pain, by shooting them with a firearm. For counts 15, 16, and 17, the aggravated assault, aggravated battery, and cruelty to children in the first degree, is for the victim, Melanie Delira Castaneda. For counts 18, 19, and 20, the aggravated assault, aggravated battery, and cruelty to children in the first degree, for the victim, Natalie Griffith. And for counts 21, 22, and 23, the aggravated assault, aggravated battery, and cruelty to children in the first degree, for the victim, Taylor Jones. The next two counts, 24 and 25, are for the non-injured adults that were in the room 21-52 at Appalachee High School that Colt Grace stepped into and fired indiscriminately. The first adult victim was Cassandra Ryan, that's count 24, aggravated assault, and Barrow County on the same day, didn't make an assault upon the person of another with a firearm, a deadly weapon. Count 25 is the victim, Stephen Edwards, aggravated assault, and Barrow County on the same day, didn't make an assault upon the person of another with a firearm, a deadly weapon. And cruelty to children in the first degree, that in Barrow County on the same day, did maliciously cause a child under the age of 18 years, cruel and excessive mental pain, by discharging a firearm multiple times inside a classroom occupied by said child. For counts 26 and 27, aggravated assault and cruelty to children in the first degree, for the victim, Landon Adams. For counts 28 and 29, aggravated assault, cruelty to children in the first degree, for the victim, Jackson Beaver. For counts 30 and 31, aggravated assault, cruelty to children in the first degree, for the victim, Hayden Bowen. For counts 32 and 33, aggravated assault, cruelty to children in the first degree, for the victim, Jaylen Brady. For counts 34 and 35, aggravated assault, cruelty to children in the first degree, for the victim, Michaela Brown. For counts 36 and 37, aggravated assault, cruelty to children in the first degree, for the victim, William Carriker. For counts 38 and 39, aggravated assault, cruelty to children in the first degree, for the victim, Marquez Coleman. For counts 40 and 41, aggravated assault, cruelty to children in the first degree, for the victim, Kendez Lawrence. For counts 42 and 43, aggravated assault, cruelty to children in the first degree, for the victim, Martin Marino Galdemez. For counts 44 and 45, aggravated assault, cruelty to children in the first degree, for the victim, Tyler Moon. For counts 46 and 47, aggravated assault, cruelty to children in the first degree, for the victim, Ariana Norman. For counts 48 and 49, aggravated assault, cruelty to children in the first degree, for the victim, Brittany Rubio Rubio. For counts 50 and 51, aggravated assault, cruelty to children in the first degree, for the victim, Ronald Vega. And for counts 52 and 53, aggravated assault, cruelty to children in the first degree, for the victim, Nautica Walton. There are counts 54 and 55, where for a child that was in the hallway, Zane Zinni, aggravated assaults. Count 54 in Barrow County, on the same date, make an assault upon the person of Zane Zinni with a firearm, a deadly weapon. In count 55, cruelty to children in the first degree, in Barrow County, on the same date, it maliciously calls a child under 18 years of age, cruel in excess of mental pain, by pointing a firearm at that child. [00:15:34] Speaker 2: Is there anything the state needs to add or would like to have for the factual basis? [00:15:38] Speaker ?: There. [00:15:40] Speaker 2: Mr. Gray, you heard of the factual basis for this count, just announced by the state. Is that right? Do you agree that there are facts to support each of the charges against you? [00:15:51] Speaker ?: Yes, sir. [00:15:51] Speaker 2: Are you pleading guilty to each of the charges that you are impacted? [00:15:56] Speaker ?: Yes, sir. [00:15:57] Speaker 2: Counsel, is there anything I need to address before accepting the plea? Anything else? There it is. All right, Mr. Gray, I will accept the plea. I find there's a factual basis for it to understand the nature of the charges, the consequences of the plea, the rights you give up when you plead the guilty, and you have introduced to the tribulation momentarily. Yes, sir. All right, so as far as proceeding, the state will be able to present the depicted in fact, evidence in aggravation. And we'll go from there to the defense for any evidence in mitigation. And we'll have an argument for whichever one's going to be able to do that. All right. The guilty plea has been entered all the advice. [00:17:02] Speaker ?: Thank you, sir. Thank you.