Mother of Colt Gray reportedly warned school of ‘extreme emergency’

Accused school shooter, Colt Gray, reportedly sent a chilling text to his mother before allegedly opening fire on staff and students, killing four people.

The mother of alleged US teen killer Colt Gray reportedly called a school counsellor to warn of an “extreme emergency” after receiving a haunting text from her son.

Marcee Gray broke her silence on Saturday, US time after her son and estranged husband were charged over the mass shooting.

Reporters from the New York Post tracked down Ms Gray at her father’s home outside Atlanta, Georgia, where she briefly spoke about Wednesday’s attack.

“It’s horrible. It’s absolutely horrible,” she said, according to the Post.

Marcee Gray, the alleged shooter’s mother. Picture: Facebook

Marcee Gray with her son, Colt. Picture: Facebook

Her 14-year-old son Colt allegedly opened fire at classmates and staff at Apalachee High School last week, killing four people.

It has been alleged by the accused teen gunman’s grandfather that he texted his mother with a haunting apology before allegedly carrying out the attack.

“I’m sorry, mom,” the message read.

She desperately called the high school and warned a counsellor of an “extreme emergency”, according to the Washington Post.

“I was the one that notified the school counsellor at the high school. I told them it was an extreme emergency and for them to go immediately and find (Colt) to check on him,” she told her sister in a text message, the paper reported.

Ms Gray reportedly declined to comment on the text, saying “I’ll have my time to speak. It’s not right now”.

“I’m not going to talk about details or anything,” she said.

A mugshot of Marcee Gray, who has a criminal record. Picture: Ben Hill County Sheriff Office

Colin Gray has been charged over the alleged shooting. Picture: Barrow County Sheriff Office

The 43-year-old reportedly has a long criminal record, which includes drug use and property damage offences.

Her dad, Charles Polhamus, denied reports from former neighbours of the family that Ms Gray abused her children and locked them out of the house.

The accused shooter’s father, Mr Gray, 54, was charged with offences including manslaughter and second degree murder after the shooting in what is a rare case of a parent being prosecuted for their child’s alleged crimes.

Colt Gray allegedly told officers ‘I did it’. Picture: Barrow County Sheriff's Office/AFP

Landlord’s ‘bad feeling’

A former landlord of the Grays has claimed Mr Gray “kicked in the door” of their old rental home to collect his guns after the family were evicted for falling behind on payments.

The unnamed homeowner told The Independent the Grays were chaotic tenants, saying he had to change the locks to ensure they did not return.

“The craziest part of all is that they left two German Shepherds,” the former landlord claimed.

“I imagine the next place where they were renting didn’t allow dogs, so they just left them.”

Colt Gray during his hearing at the Barrow County Courthouse. Picture: Adam Hagy/Getty Images North America/AFP

The landlord also stated the Grays were not interested in collecting the pets and left items, including their wedding photos, behind.

He claimed to have had a “bad feeling” about the couple.

Teen ‘ridiculed’ at school

Details have emerged about a previous investigation into the teen gunman, whose father claimed last year was constantly “ridiculed” by classmates who called him “gay”.

These claims were contained in a transcript of a 2023 police probe into the teenager’s behaviour released to the media.

Community members, students, and faculty of Apalachee High School came together for a vigil on Friday. Picture: Megan Varner/Getty Images/AFP

The FBI had been tipped off that Colt, then 13, allegedly threatened to shoot up a middle school on the messaging platform Discord, according to local news reports.

Mr Gray told investigators it was “very difficult” for his son to go to school and “not get picked on”.

“I was trying to get him on the golf team. Like, ‘Oh look Colt’s gay’. ‘He’s dating that guy’,” the 54-year-old claimed classmates said.

“Just ridiculed him day after day after day. And then y’all show up and he’s he just like just really weighing on him.”

Colt Gray nurses his AR-15. Picture: TikTok

The gun Colt allegedly used was pictured at the school.

Two students and two teachers were shot and killed. Picture: Megan Varner/Getty Images via AFP

Two teachers and two students were killed in the alleged mass shooting on Wednesday, while several others were injured.

Colt and his father appeared back-to-back at the Barrow County Courthouse on Friday morning, US time.

The teen is charged with offences including four counts of felony murder, and faces life in prison.

His father’s charges carry total sentenced of 180 years in jail.

Prosecutors allege he bought the AR-15 rifle his son used in the shooting as a Christmas present.

Both accused did not apply for bail and will remain behind bars awaiting their next court date.