Father of Georgia School Shooting Suspect Arrested for Murder and Manslaughter

Colin Gray, the father of the 14-year-old suspect in the Georgia school shooting that killed four, was arrested on charges of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter.

The father of the 14-year-old accused of killing two teachers and two students in a Georgia school shooting was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with the tragedy.

Colin Gray, 54, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with two counts of second-degree murder, four counts of involuntary manslaughter, and eight counts of cruelty to children, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).

Father of Georgia School Shooting Suspect Arrested for Murder and Manslaughter

The arrest came as the community of Winder, Georgia, continues to grapple with the aftermath of the deadly shooting at Apalachee High School. Two teachers, 24-year-old Richard Aspinwall and 26-year-old Christina Irimie, and two students, 14-year-old Mason Schermerhorn and 14-year-old Christian Angulo, were killed in the attack.

GBI Director Chris Hosey said that the arrest of Gray was a "difficult" step for the community, but it was necessary to ensure accountability for the tragedy.

Father of Georgia School Shooting Suspect Arrested for Murder and Manslaughter

"This is a very difficult time, as we know, for students and parents and so many students and parents here in this county and around this state are afraid," Hosey said during a press conference on Thursday evening. "You all have likely seen reports of incidents of other students making threats today at various schools around our state. In each of these incidents, police law enforcement took charges, and they made arrests, acted very swiftly as we take incidents like this very seriously across this state."

Hosey urged the community to come together and remain vigilant in the wake of the deadly mass shooting.

Father of Georgia School Shooting Suspect Arrested for Murder and Manslaughter

"This is a time for all of us as a community and a state, to come together and remain vigilant," he said. "Students must be supported and encouraged here in this community and across the state to contact a member of their school faculty with any and all concerns of suspicious activity that they may see."

"Local, state and federal law enforcement will continue to work together around the clock in relation to this incident here and any other incidents that come up around this state that raise concern for the safety of our students, faculty and citizens here in the State of Georgia."

Father of Georgia School Shooting Suspect Arrested for Murder and Manslaughter

Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith announced that of the nine injured, which included two teachers and seven students, all would make a full recovery.

Smith implored the audience to "lift up our community."

"Please keep these children, these teachers," he said. "We call them teachers, but I call them heroes."

The arrest of Gray is a significant step in the investigation into the Georgia school shooting, but the community is still reeling from the loss of four innocent lives. As the investigation continues, the community will seek answers and support as they try to heal from this senseless tragedy.