Father of US School Shooter Arrested by Police
Father of School Shooting Suspect in Custody
Suspect often hunted with father, who took photo of son with...
Apalachee High School shooting suspect's father arrested, charged with involuntary manslaughter and cruelty to children, as investigation reveals potential negligence surrounding teen's access to firearms.
A 54-year-old father has been arrested in connection with the Apalachee High School shooting in Georgia, US, where his 14-year-old son allegedly killed four people.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has charged the father with multiple offenses, including four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children.
The 14-year-old suspect faces four counts of murder and will be prosecuted as an adult, according to authorities.
A devastating incident at Apalachee High School on September 4 resulted in the loss of two students and two teachers, with nine others injured.
The 14-year-old suspect's initial court appearance is scheduled for Friday, September 6.
At a Thursday evening press conference, GBI Director revealed that the father's charges stem from his son's access to the firearm used in the attack.
Investigators are probing whether the father purchased the AR-style weapon as a gift for his son in December 2023, potentially enabling the tragic events.
Law enforcement suggests that the gift may have played a role in facilitating the attack.
The FBI warned local police in May 2023 about online threats suggesting a potential school shooting, which were traced to a Discord account with a Russian-translated username identical to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooter's last name.
At the time, authorities interviewed the 14-year-old suspect and his father, who claimed the boy had no unsupervised access to firearms.
The father revealed during the interview that his son was facing bullying at school and struggling with his parents' separation, but apparently did not take further action to address the concerns.
The 14-year-old suspect's tumultuous home life has emerged as a possible factor in the Apalachee High School shooting. His parents were in the midst of a divorce, and he was living with his father at the time.
Police records indicate the boy's mother and father were separating, with the suspect staying with his father. The maternal grandfather suggested the family's troubled dynamics played a role in the teen's actions.
The grandfather acknowledged his grandson's culpability, stating, “He's going to pay the price” for the “horrendous” act, while implying the family's difficult environment contributed to the tragedy.
“My grandson did what he did because of the environment that he lived in,” he added.
Suspect often hunted with father, who took photo of son with deer blood on face.
Teen exits algebra class, returns with firearm, attempting to re-enter classroom on day of shooting.
The Apalachee High School shooting case highlights another instance where parents face criminal charges following their child's involvement in a school shooting.
This development echoes the 2021 Michigan school shooting case, where parents were sentenced to 10-15 years in prison for their role in their son's actions, which resulted in four fatalities.
The investigation into the Apalachee High School shooting suspect's family is ongoing, with a focus on potential negligence regarding the teen's access to firearms.
