By now, most of you know about the Apalachee High School shooting in Winder, Georgia. If not, you can quickly catch up.
I posted about this on LinkedIn, connecting it to my professional world. I’m going refer to my original post somewhat.
The Apalachee High School shooting left two teachers and two students dead, and nine other people were sent to the hospital. The alleged shooter, Colt Gray, a 14 year old student from the high school has been captured and charged with murder, among other things.
Although he will be charged as an adult, he is not eligible for the death penalty. Georgia is an execution-friendly state, but 18 is my state’s minimum age limit for strapping someone down and poisoning them to death.
If found guilty, Colt will spend the rest of his life in prison.
His father, Colin Gray, who, according to the BBC, is facing four charges of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder and eight of cruelty to children. This seems to revolve around Colin giving Colt access to guns. He also faces life in prison. The particularly legalities about this I don’t know, but I applaud that he is being held accountable for his son’s alleged crimes.
Regarding such things one of the things to reasonably debate is whether or not apparent should face the precise charges of the child in certain circumstances. I don’t know the answer to that, but I think it’s an important question regarding parental responsibility.
Marcee Gray, the mother of Colt and ex-wife of Colin, has had plenty of her own legal issues, but, in this case, tried to warn the school. She was too late.
That’s the gist.
Normally, I don’t pay lots of attention to these kinds of things nationally. The last school shooting I paid close attention to was Columbine. This is intentional. I’m aware of them and I’m disturbed by them, but I don’t have any connection to them.
My choosing not to focus on it is not about ambivalence. Far from it. I taught for many years in a county jail, and worked with local gangs, toured quite a few prisons, and did some consulting on related issues. I have known people who have killed, and others, sadly, who would later be killed. I’ve also known inmates whose children would follow them into crime and incarceration.
Thankfully, I’ve also known success stories. The inmate does his time, and becomes an ex-offender upon release. He goes on to build a good and healthy life, giving back to the community he once injured.
This is something close to my heart, but the reality is, I can’t focus on everything.
Why then this case?
Does this relate to me? Directly, no. However, I live about 40 or 45 minutes from the high school. I’ve been there for an event. It’s an architecturally bland building set on a beautiful campus. I’ve driven through the area a number of times, but I can’t say I’m familiar with Winder.
People in my outer circle work there. No one I know personally, so I’m not in a position to give somebody a call. I’d like to think they have enough people in their immediate circle, people they know well, who will do exactly that.
Is that enough to feel connected to this crime, this tragedy?
It’s part of many conversations here. My church in both the main sermon and in the Sunday school time talked about this.
The situation has been politicized. Both Harris former President Trump and Vice President jumped on this quickly to make this about them. Trump called Colt Gray a “monster,” attempting to dehumanize this disturbed boy. Harris gave lip-service to this as well, “mourning the deaths of those whose lives were cut short by gun violence.” She also gave no humanity to either the victims or the shooter, and quickly added an innocuous campaign plug. Their respective running mates. JD Vance and Tim Walz said equally unimportant things, presumably wanting to avoid upstaging their boss’ lack of leadership. Vance considers school shootings just a fact of life. Walz talked about guns instead of people. Read their comments.
The names of the murder victims, those people Harris, Trump, Vance, and Walz ignored:
- Mason Schermerhorn
- Christian Angulo
- Richard Aspinwall
- Cristina Irimie
Nine other people were admitted to the hospital (one teacher and eight students). Most of their names aren’t readily available, presumably for privacy reasons. One, a teacher, is identified as David Phenix. All of the nine are expected to survive.
Read more about all of them.
What Now?
This is the time to care for neighbors, friends, and above all, the victims, with love, grace, and kindness. Make this tragedy about anything else and the shooter has won. Focus right now on the humans impacted directly.
The time will come to discuss the big issues regarding safety, guns, and schools.
For now: those who pray should pray. And they, and everyone else, reach out to the neighbor across the yard. Have dinner. A good chat. Return the power tools your borrowed. Ask about their kids and talk about yours. Smile compassionately when you do.
Stay away from arguing that solves nothing. It only hurts the families either mourning the dead or concerned about the injured.
Whatever you believe about the issues, soon … Hard discussions are ahead. Necessary discussions. Cool heads, not inflammatory defenses and attacks, need to reign.
Love your neighbor. Not tomorrow. Today.
In the meanwhile, to our potential next president: are you willing to use the death of four human beings and the wounds of an entire community as a campaign opportunity? How much money can you raise from Colt Gray’s bullets? No one believes any of you care.