Overview
- The sentence, which came Tuesday, July 28, 2026, follows a non‑negotiated guilty plea by 16‑year‑old Colt Gray to 55 counts, including four counts of malice murder.
- Prosecutors presented device records, a bedroom shrine to previous shooters and recorded jail calls to show Gray planned the Sept. 4, 2024 attack to gain notoriety within an online true‑crime community.
- A defense forensic psychologist described a childhood marked by parental neglect, instability and anxiety, but the judge found that testimony did not outweigh evidence of deliberate planning.
- Colt’s father, Colin Gray, was convicted in March for supplying the AR‑15‑style rifle used in the attack and faces a separate, imminent sentencing that has drawn attention to parental liability for firearm access.
- Victims’ families delivered impact statements in court and local leaders say the case will shape talks on school safety, parental responsibility for guns and how online subcultures can inspire violence.