Overview
- Judge Nicholas Primm signed an order Wednesday to transfer the trial of 16-year-old Colt Gray from Barrow County to Columbia County because he found pervasive local publicity could prejudice jurors.
- Jury selection is set to begin Oct. 13 with jurors drawn from Columbia County and the judge wrote he does not plan to sequester jurors while anticipating the trial will last no more than three weeks.
- Barrow County will continue to prosecute the case and Judge Primm will preside, while Columbia County will provide facilities and Barrow County must reimburse reasonable costs for hosting the proceedings.
- Colt Gray has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody on charges that include felony murder and aggravated assault stemming from the Sept. 4, 2024, attack that prosecutors say killed two students and two teachers and wounded others.
- The venue change follows the March conviction of Colt’s father, Colin Gray, on 27 counts for his alleged role in enabling the attack and could affect witness logistics, community safety planning, and legal strategies ahead of the October trial.