The father of a 14-year-old boy accused of killing four people at a high school in Georgia has been arrested and charged in connection with the tragic incident. Colin Gray, 54, faces four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children. Authorities announced Thursday evening that the charges are directly related to his son’s actions and his alleged role in “allowing him to possess a weapon.”

Colt Gray, the teenager, is accused of fatally shooting two teachers and two students at Apalachee High School in Winder, near Atlanta, on Wednesday. He is set to appear in court on Friday, facing four counts of murder as an adult. Under Georgia law, minors aged 13 and older can be charged as adults for certain crimes, which can lead to more severe penalties if convicted.

Law enforcement sources told CBS News that investigators are exploring whether Colin Gray purchased the AR-style weapon as a gift for his son in December 2023. The charges against the father are among the most serious brought against a parent in such cases.

In May 2023, the FBI had alerted local authorities to online threats linked to an email address associated with Colt Gray. A sheriff’s deputy interviewed the then-13-year-old boy, and Colin Gray informed police that while there were guns in the home, his son did not have unsupervised access to them. Officials revealed that the threats, posted on Discord, a popular social media platform among gamers, included images of guns.