The attorney for Colt Gray, the teenager accused of fatally shooting four people at a Georgia high school last fall, indicated Tuesday that a plea deal may be in the works and that his client could change his not-guilty plea.
“We’re here to potentially schedule a plea,” defense attorney Alfonso Kraft Jr. told the judge during a court hearing. “I’d likely ask for more time, possibly until October.”
The hearing was held to determine whether the case would proceed to trial or move toward a plea agreement.
Kraft said the defense is still conducting its own investigation and that a psychologist is scheduled to meet with Colt later this month.
Colt has reportedly admitted to carrying out the September 4 shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, which left two students and two teachers dead. Nine others were injured in the attack.
Colt appeared at Tuesday’s hearing via video, wearing a black T-shirt and glasses, with his dark hair cut short—a stark contrast to his first court appearance, when he had long blond hair.
Several victims’ family members were present at Tuesday’s hearing, including relatives of 14-year-old Christian Angulo, a freshman at the high school.
His father, 54-year-old Colin Gray, has also been indicted in connection with the case. He has pleaded not guilty.
Investigators have previously testified that Colin Gray purchased the AR-15-style rifle allegedly used in the shooting as a Christmas gift for Colt—just seven months after law enforcement had questioned the family about online threats related to a potential school shooting.
Chief Judge Nicholas Primm noted that the proposed timeline for Colt’s potential plea deal aligns well with Colin Gray’s upcoming trial, scheduled for September, and could help prevent pretrial publicity from influencing that case.