What we know about Colt Gray’s family life as relative defends real victim- the teen gunman as relative confesses family’s travails and missed opportunities.
Doomed from the start…? A relative of the Georgia teen who earlier this week shot up his school, killing four and wounding countless others has insisted the ‘troubled youth’ hails from a ‘regular family’ despite widespread claims the 14 year old was raised in a broken home, and is ‘not white trash.’
The perception that Colt Gray, 14, comes from a low-income, uneducated family is simply not true, a maternal relative told the nypost.
In fact, most of the relatives of the teen’s troubled mother are middle class with college degrees and good-paying jobs, the family member told the tabloid.
‘We are not white trash. That’s what everyone is saying about us, but we’re not. We are just regular people,’ the relative, who wished to remain anonymous (for obvious reasons) insisted.
Colt Gray allegedly gunned down two classmates and two teachers at Apalachee High School on Wednesday morning. Come Friday, the teen made his first court appearance where he was arraigned on four counts of murder.
Since the massacre, a distressing picture has emerged of Gray’s home life including claims of ongoing addictions, domestic abuse, in and out of jail arrests as far back as 2007 along with emotional and psychological abuse.
A former neighbor and landlord of the Grays told the nypost that the teenager came from a neglectful home that, according to police, was frequently visited by the state’s child protective services agency.
The alleged school shooter’s mother, Marcee Gray, who has a lengthy rap sheet with drug and domestic violence busts, is a bit of a black sheep on her side of the family, the relative conceded.
Unlike the rest of her kin, she got into the wrong crowd, dated some bad guys and often got into trouble, the family member said.
Lauren Vickers, who lived next door to the Grays in Jefferson, Ga., told the nypost the children were always wearing dirty clothes and sometimes were hungry.
‘It was constant abuse,’ Vickers told the outlet.
Marcee has a college degree herself and was described as ‘both book smart and street smart’ — but is known for her hot temper, the relative went on to concede.
The family member, along with Marcee’s former landlord, said the teen’s mother has struggled with drug and alcohol addiction.
Despite family interventions, nothing has seemed to work and Marcee has been estranged from the rest of her family for some time, by her own choice, according to her relative.
Making matters worse, Marcee’s family according to the relative has not been particularly fond of her ‘equally troubled’ husband, Colin Gray — who has also been charged with murder in connection to the shooting after supplying his teen son a high velocity AR-14 rifle used in the school shooting, just months after the FBI told the parent his son was being investigated following allegations of conspiring to shoot up a school as early as May, 2023.
The relative said the father can’t hold down a job and has not ‘been a good example for his son.’
Colt’s family wants the teen to go through intensive therapy, take the medication they believe he needs. Ultimately, they’d like to see him charged as a juvenile, rehabilitated and have a shot at somewhat of a normal future, according to the relative.
Colt according to Georgia authorities is to be tried as an adult and if convicted will spend the rest of his life behind bars without the chance of parole.
The relative added that they’re sympathetic to the families of the deceased, while also insisting that Colt is also a victim in this tragedy. Which is to wonder, define victim?
