Georgia High School Shooting: Suspect and Father Face 'Very Damning' Charges

The 14-year-old suspect and his father are facing a slew of charges, including murder and involuntary manslaughter, in connection with the tragic Georgia high school shooting that left four dead and multiple others injured.

The 14-year-old charged with shooting up Apalachee High School in Georgia last week brought a rifle into the school concealed inside his backpack, authorities have revealed.

Colt Gray hid the assault-style rifle in his backpack on September 4, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). Sheriff Jud Smith of Barrow County told WSB-TV Atlanta that "it would have stuck out, but he had some things that made it concealed."

Georgia High School Shooting: Suspect and Father Face 'Very Damning' Charges

Gray was able to leave the classroom during the shooting because he asked a teacher if he could go to the front office and speak to someone. The teacher allowed him to leave and take his belongings with him.

"Which was not uncommon. He asked to go up front and speak to someone at the front, and when you do that you take your belongings with you," Smith told WSB-TV, "so the teacher allowed him to leave."

Georgia High School Shooting: Suspect and Father Face 'Very Damning' Charges

Gray then went to the restroom, where he hid from teachers. Later, he allegedly took out the rifle and began shooting, leaving two students and two teachers dead.

The victims were identified as Richard Aspinwall, 39; Cristina Irimie, 53; and Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14.

Georgia High School Shooting: Suspect and Father Face 'Very Damning' Charges

Seven other victims had gunshot wounds, and two others suffered other injuries, police said.

Apalachee High School does not have metal detectors, according to the GBI.

Georgia High School Shooting: Suspect and Father Face 'Very Damning' Charges

The suspect's mother, Marcee Gray, called the school counselor the morning of the shooting to warn officials about a concerning message she had received from her son, she said in an interview with ABC News.

She said the last message she had received from her son was, "I’m sorry, Mom," and that his father had received similar texts – "I’m sorry" and "You’re not to blame for this."

Colt Gray has been charged with four counts of felony murder and more charges are expected. His father, Colin Gray, 54, is accused of "knowingly allowing" his son to possess the weapon he used in the attack, police said. He was charged with two counts of second-degree murder, four counts of involuntary manslaughter, and eight counts of cruelty to children.

Investigators are examining the suspect's possible interest in previous mass shootings, including those at Sandy Hook Elementary School and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

The charges against the suspect and his father are "very damning," said former Assistant District Attorney Phil Holloway on Fox News. He noted that the father could face additional charges if he knew his son had access to the weapon and failed to take reasonable steps to prevent him from using it.

The shooting has sparked renewed debate about gun control and school safety. Some critics have argued that Apalachee High School should have had metal detectors in place, while others have called for stricter background checks and limits on the types of weapons that are available to civilians.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.