Key facts
- Jailed teen gunman Colt Gray discussed his online notoriety with his mother after the Apalachee High School shooting.
- Colt Gray pleaded guilty to 55 counts, including murder, for the Sept. 4, 2024, shooting.
- Recorded phone conversations revealed Gray's interest in his online fame and admiration for other mass shooters.
- His mother, Marcee Gray, promised to create a shrine for him.
- The conversations led to Marcee Gray being barred from contacting her son.
In the aftermath of the Apalachee High School shooting, 16-year-old gunman Colt Gray engaged in frequent phone conversations with his mother, Marcee Gray, from a youth detention center. These discussions, played in court during his sentencing hearing, focused on his online notoriety and admiration for other mass shooters. Gray expressed excitement about engagement on posts depicting him and asked his mother if she had created a shrine for him, to which she responded affirmatively. The alarming nature of these conversations led to Marcee Gray being barred from speaking with her son. Prosecutors presented evidence, including these calls and a detailed notebook, to counter Gray's claims of acting spontaneously and not seeking attention. An investigator testified that Gray idolized other mass shooters and sought fame through the attack. A state official also testified that Gray showed significant improvement after his mother's contact was restricted and he began medication, suggesting a change in his demeanor.