Fitzgerald, GA — In a tragic unfolding of events, Colin Gray, 54, has been charged with multiple offenses in connection to a fatal shooting incident that claimed the lives of four and injured nine. On Sept. 5, a day following the tragic incident, Gray faced four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two for second-degree murder, and eight for child cruelty.
Authorities allege that Gray’s actions involved knowingly allowing his son, Colt, access to a firearm despite being aware of the potential threat he posed. This unfortunate decision led to the deaths of two 14-year-old students, Christian Angulo and Mason Schermerhorn, and two teachers, Ricky Aspinwall and Cristina Irimie. Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey highlighted the gravity of the charges in a recent press briefing.
The Gray family has been a part of the Fitzgerald community in Ben Hill County for over 40 years, a town well acquainted with the family’s long history. Marcee Gray, 43, Colt’s mother and a native of Fitzgerald, also has a turbulent past with encounters with the law spanning across three counties. Over the years, her charges have ranged from domestic violence to drug possession.
As of April this year, Marcee was charged in a case involving the aggravated battery of a 73-year-old woman, identified in court documents as her mother, Deborah Polhamus. According to the charges, the assault occurred last November at their home, where she allegedly restrained her mother with tape and confined her against her will.
The family’s matriarch, Marcee, was released on a $5,700 bond on April 12, facing multiple charges. The Polhamus-Gray household, nestled in a serene, pine-shaded neighborhood, oddly contrasts the turmoil unfolding within.
Charles Polhamus, a well-known figure in the community and former national pole-vaulting competitor, expressed the profound impact of the recent events on the family. Despite not achieving his Olympic dreams in 1984, Charles has remained an influential presence in Fitzgerald, teaching pole-vaulting to local youths.
His resilience in the face of adversity is anchored deeply in his faith, which he credits for keeping his family from falling apart under the strain of national scrutiny. He reflected on the shifts in societal values concerning respect and responsibility, which he perceives as factors contributing to the tragedy.
As the community reels from the events, Charles also voiced his exhaustion with the media’s relentless pursuits for interviews, underscoring the personal toll the tragedy has taken on him and his family. He stressed the widespread implications of such incidents, suggesting they ripple far beyond the immediate family involved.
As the legal proceedings continue, the community of Fitzgerald is left to grapple with the consequences of the tragedy, raising questions about the intersection of family dynamics, societal values, and the daunting task of healing and prevention in the wake of such losses.