The woman who appears to be the mother of 14-year-old Colt Gray, who police say committed the shooting at Apalachee High School on Wednesday, appears to have claimed on social media she left her husband after years of “almost constant domestic abuse.”
Colt Gray was arrested on Wednesday and accused by law enforcement of killing four, including two students and two teachers, as well as injuring nine during an attack at the Winder, Georgia high school.
Marcee Gray (pictured above) appears to be the biological sister of Annie Polhamus Brown, who The Daily Mail identified as the aunt of the suspected killer. Biographical information shared in posts to social media seems to support that Marcee Gray is the mother of Colt Gray, and suggests she claimed to separate from the alleged killer’s father about a year ago.
“Quick update on my life for all my work peeps,” wrote Marcee Gray in a post to LinkedIn. “After 14 [years] of almost constant domestic abuse, I packed myself and my babies up and relocated to my hometown in South GA. We are all good and my kids are thriving.”
Marcee Gray also seemed to write about the separation in a November 20, 2022 post to Facebook.
“I know it’s hard to understand from the outside looking in. Everyone in my and his family couldn’t understand why I stayed as long as I did,” wrote Marcee Gray. “I’m not about to give up on him now… We are just taking a break.”
Polhamus Brown replied to the post, “Time is up. Ain’t no way in hell that Jesus approves of the message ‘he’ has been sending.”
In now-deleted posts to the social media platform, Polhamus Brown reportedly directly addressed the allegation her nephew was responsible for the attack on Apalachee High School, and seemed to hint at a troubled family life.
“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 b****** he saw on a daily basis,” reportedly wrote Polhamus Brown.
Polhamus Brown reportedly wrote in reply to another Facebook user, “He NEVER asked for what he’s been through.”
It remains unclear where Colt Gray lived at the time of the attack, or whether his father and Marcee Gray remain separated.
The father of Colt Gray has been identified as Colin Gray. A neighbor reportedly told local media he was unaware of Colt Gray’s existence at his father’s property, but witnessed the teenager board a school bus on the morning of the shooting.
Marcee Gray was apparently arrested in November 2023, with The Georgia Gazette revealing she was charged with possession of methamphetamine, criminal damage to property, possession of a controlled substance, sale, distribution, or possession of drugs, and other, related charges.
The FBI office in Atlanta confirmed on Wednesday it became aware of Colt Gray in May 2023, when it “received several anonymous tips about online threats to commit a school shooting,” which included “photographs of guns.”
Despite the FBI interviewing him and Colin Gray at the time, the agency reported “there was no probable cause for arrest” or any additional action.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Marcee Gray” by Marcee Gray and “Apalachee High School” by Breaking911.
