On Feb. 23, a jury in Fulton County Superior Court began day seven of the murder trial of Michael Gray, who is accused of killing his 19‑year‑old son, Colin Gray, in Atlanta last summer.
Background
Colin Gray’s body was discovered in a vacant warehouse on the outskirts of the city on Aug. 12, 2025. Police quickly ruled the death a homicide after finding multiple gunshot wounds and a blood‑splattered handgun near the victim. The investigation was led by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) alongside the Atlanta Police Department. Early testimony linked Michael Gray to the scene through cell‑phone pings and surveillance footage that placed him near the warehouse on the night of the killing.
In a dramatic turn during day six of the trial, prosecutors introduced evidence that Thomas Gray, Michael’s father, purchased a 7.62‑mm semi‑automatic rifle in 2021 from a licensed dealer in Marietta. The rifle, serial number 2021‑GR‑0147, matches the model used in the March 2025 mass shooting at Riverbend Elementary, a tragedy that claimed 12 lives and injured 18 children.
The Charges
Michael Gray is charged with malice murder, felony murder, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. The indictment, filed by the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office, also includes a charge of conspiracy to commit murder, alleging that Gray conspired with an unknown accomplice to obtain the weapon used in his son’s killing. Meanwhile, Thomas Gray faces a separate civil lawsuit alleging negligent firearm sales, but no criminal charges have been filed against him at this time.
Key Takeaways
- Colin Gray, 19, was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds in a warehouse on Aug. 12, 2025.
- Prosecutors allege Michael Gray used a handgun obtained from an unknown source, while his father, Thomas Gray, purchased the rifle later used in the Riverbend Elementary shooting.
- The case hinges on forensic ballistics linking the handgun to the murder scene and on testimony about the father’s firearm purchase.
- Both the GBI and the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office have emphasized that the trial will examine whether the father’s sale of the rifle violated state gun‑ownership laws.
What's Next
The trial is scheduled to resume on Feb. 28 with opening statements from the defense, followed by cross‑examination of the firearm expert who will testify on the ballistic evidence. The judge has set a tentative sentencing hearing for June 2026, pending a verdict. In parallel, the civil suit against Thomas Gray is expected to be filed in the Georgia Superior Court later this month.