Alleged Apalachee school shooter Colt Gray’s family issues chilling threat to go ‘full throttle’
The aunt of alleged Georgia school shooter Colt Gray threatened to go “full throttle” on anyone speaking ill of the 14-year-old suspect on social media just hours after the massacre unfolded.
Annie Polhamus Brown, who identified herself as Gray’s aunt, leapt to the teen’s defense in a series of since-removed Facebook posts soon after authorities identified him as the alleged gunman who opened fire at Apalachee High School in Winder on Wednesday.
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At least four people were killed and multiple victims were rushed to the hospital with gunshot wounds following the shooting. Fox 5 Atlanta
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Deadly shots rang out at 10:30 Wednesday morning.
“They are charging my 14yo nephew as an adult, for murder,” Brown wrote in one of her Facebook posts after Gray was accused of slaughtering four people and wounding at least nine others during the shooting spree at his school.
“Yall ready to see Polhamus blood in full throttle? Nah, I wouldn’t be either.”
The woman vowed to stick by the alleged gunman, saying she “WILL NOT” leave her “nephew standing alone!!!!”
“When Uvalde happened, I told my own children that ‘only hurt people hurt people’,” Brown wrote, adding that she did “EVERYTHING” she could to “FIGHT” for her nephew.
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Brown, who identified herself as Gray’s aunt, leapt to the teen’s defense in a series of social media posts. Facebook/Annie Polhamus Brown
“I will take care of my nephew and what he needs on this side — just check yourself before you speak about a child that never asked to deal with the bulls—t he saw on a daily basis,” she said in the post.
Brown didn’t elaborate in the posts on the apparent issues she claimed the teen had endured.
She later told the Washington Post, though, that the teen had been “begging for help from everybody around him” for mental health issues prior to the massacre.
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Brown told The Washington Post the adults in Gray’s life “failed him.” Facebook/Annie Polhamus Brown
“The adults around him failed him,” Brown said, adding that his apparent struggles were exacerbated by a tough home life.
The aunt, who lives in Florida, wouldn’t expand on the mental health issues but said she had tried to get him assistance from afar. She added that she helped him re-enroll in school back in January after a period of absenteeism.
It comes after the alleged shooter’s relative had earlier begged in a social media post for “someone” to get her in touch with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in the aftermath of Wednesday’s bloodshed — claiming she’d tried calling but hadn’t been able to get through.
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Law enforcement swarmed the school as heartbroken loved ones gathered nearby. AP
“I am not scared, I will not back down,” Brown said in her social media rant.
Elsewhere in her tirade, Brown appeared to offer support to the families of the victim, writing: “I Will NOT disrespect other parents and families that are dealing with this tragedy on the opposite end. They DID NOT DESERVE THIS!!!!”
“Y’all can go ahead and play the blame game all you want, but THE FAMILIES affected by my nephew’s actions deserve all the attention now!!!!!!,” she added.
Brown made her Facebook profile private soon after her posts started spreading on social media.
Authorities, meanwhile, said they are still probing a motive for Wednesday’s bloodshed.
Gray was taken into custody just moments after he allegedly armed himself with an AR-style weapon and opened fire, authorities said.
He has been charged as an adult over the deaths of two 14-year-old students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, as well as two teachers, Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Christina Irimie, 53.
Nine others were rushed to local hospitals after sustaining gunshot wounds during the rampage.
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Colt Gray is accused of using an AR-style weapon at the Apalachee High School shooting.
Lyela Sayarath, a junior who had been sitting next to the alleged shooter before the bloodshed, told CNN that Gray had left their math class suddenly at the start of the period.
Sayarath said that just before Gray suddenly reappeared, someone over the loudspeaker told all teachers to check their emails.
Moments later, Gray tried to get back inside the classroom — but was rebuffed by a peer after she apparently saw he had a gun.
“They almost let him in, but I’m pretty sure [the teacher] saw that he had a gun and so she backed away,” Sayarath told the outlet. “And then he turned away and that’s when you hear like the first round of fire.”
The gunman had moved on to another classroom, where he opened fire, she said.
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Police say the alleged shooter’s motive is not known at this time. Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK
Meanwhile, the FBI revealed late Wednesday that Gray had been on their radar since last year — when he was investigated by local authorities in connection to online school shooting threats.
Gray, then 13, was identified as the suspect making a slew of posts in March last year.
Authorities shared that they have interviewed Gray, his family members, and others associated with the teen since his arrest. However, the alleged shooter’s motive remains unclear.
