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SEPTEMBER 4: A woman protests with banners near the scene of a mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, United States on September 4, 2024. At least four people were killed and nine were taken to various hospitals with injuries.

ATLANTA – The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday night the arrest of Colin Gray, the father of 14-year-old Colt Gray, who is accused of killing four people and wounding nine others during a mass shooting at Apalachee High School on Wednesday. Colin Gray faces multiple charges.

RELATED: Father of Apalachee High School shooting suspect also arrested

Holding parents accountable

The arrest is part of a growing trend of parents being held accountable for crimes their children commit. A similar case involved Ethan Crumbley, a 15-year-old who shot and killed four students at Oxford High School in Michigan in 2021. Ethan’s parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, were convicted of manslaughter earlier this year. According to the Associated Press, prosecutors argued that they failed to secure the weapon used in the shooting and ignored clear signs of their son’s mental health issues.

The Crumbleys were informed of a disturbing drawing Ethan had made for a math assignment just hours before the shooting. The drawing showed a gun, a bullet, and a wounded person. When asked about it, Ethan explained that he was upset over the deaths of his dog and grandmother and the loss of a friend who had recently moved away. Neither Ethan nor his parents mentioned that they had purchased a Sig Sauer 9mm just four days earlier, despite the gun being in the drawing. The school did not require the Crumbleys to take Ethan home, but a counselor advised them to seek help for him within 48 hours. Later that day, Ethan used the gun to kill four students and wound six others and a teacher.

During the trial, prosecutors stressed that the parents were not being held responsible for Ethan’s actions, but for their own failings. The Crumbleys had not sought help for their son, despite his plea in a journal in which he wrote, “I have zero help for my mental issues and it’s causing me to shoot up the… school.” Both parents expressed remorse for the tragedy, but the jury found them guilty. The verdict was a landmark decision that drew national attention and reignited debate about parental responsibility in mass shootings. James and Jennifer Crumbley were sentenced to at least 10 years in prison, while Ethan is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

The Crumbleys’ case is not an isolated one. In Illinois, Robert Crimo Jr., the father of the mass shooter at the Fourth of July parade, was charged with signing his son’s application for a state gun permit despite his troubling behavior. He pleaded guilty to seven counts of reckless endangerment and was sentenced to probation, jail time and community service. In Virginia, Deja Taylor, the mother of a 6-year-old who shot his teacher, was sentenced to two years in prison for child abuse. In addition, a former assistant principal at the school, Ebony Parker, was charged with child abuse after ignoring warnings that the child might have a gun.

Not everyone is in favor of stricter laws and punishments

Some fear that holding parents accountable for their children’s actions could disproportionately impact Black or poor parents, according to The Marshall Project. A Tennessee bill, the Parental Accountability Act, would fine parents up to $1,000 if their child commits multiple crimes. Maryland is also considering prosecuting parents for their children’s crimes. In Nevada, a 2022 law would make parents civilly liable if their minor children use or possess firearms after being convicted of a crime.

Although the concept of parental responsibility is not new, dating back to 1903, there is no empirical evidence that punishing parents reduces juvenile delinquency, according to The 74. However, nearly all states in the U.S. have laws that hold parents civilly liable for juvenile crime.

Number of states with laws making parents criminally liable

At least 42 states and the District of Columbia have laws that hold parents criminally liable for the actions of their children. These laws vary widely, with some states focusing on parental negligence in preventing a child’s access to firearms, while others focus on broader forms of delinquent behavior.

Georgia law allows for criminal liability if parents are found to have contributed to their child’s delinquent behavior through neglect or failure to properly supervise. For example, if a parent knowingly allows a child access to firearms or engages in reckless behavior that results in harm, the child may be subject to criminal charges, such as involuntary manslaughter or child abuse. Each case is assessed based on the parent’s specific role and actions.

For more detailed information about the current legislation in Georgia, click here.

Georgia Senate Committee Investigates Problem

On Thursday, Sarah Walker, spokesperson for Georgia Moms for Change, grew emotional as she voiced the fears shared by many parents in the wake of the mass shooting at Apalachee High School. She urged lawmakers during a Georgia Senate committee hearing to take decisive action to address gun violence, saying, “The thought of sending a child to school and never seeing them again is an American nightmare.” Walker stressed that while thoughts and prayers are important, it is ultimately legislation and policy that will solve the problem.

RELATED: Apalachee High School shooting tops agenda of Georgia Senate Committee meeting

Georgia lawmakers, including state Rep. Yasmine Neal and members of the Georgia Senate Safe Firearm Storage Study Committee, feel the urgency to take action. The state had already increased funding for school security in 2023, but there is still talk of further measures to prevent gun violence without infringing on Second Amendment rights. Sen. Emanuel Jones stressed the importance of securing firearms and holding gun owners accountable, and emphasized that there are steps lawmakers can take to improve safety.

Charges filed against father of Apalachee High School shooting suspect

Colin Gray is facing four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children. Colin Gray is being held in the Barrow County Detention Center and no details have been released regarding his court appearance. Colt Gray is scheduled to appear in court virtually on September 6 at 8:30 a.m.