Recently released body cam footage reveals an exchange from last year between sheriff's deputies in Georgia and a teenager accused of the deadly mass shooting at Apalachee High School. The video sheds light on a May 2023 interaction where law enforcement questioned the then 13-year-old suspected shooter and his father following anonymous tips to the FBI about online threats of a school shooting.
During the exchange, the father expressed concern and emphasized the importance of teaching his son about firearm safety and responsible gun ownership. Despite the alarming nature of the tips, there was no probable cause for arrest at the time.
Additional details have emerged, including text messages from the suspect's mother, Marcy Gray, who urgently contacted the school multiple times on the morning of the shooting. She had notified the school counselor about an extreme emergency and requested a check on her son, who had sent her a troubling text that day.
Tragically, the school administrator mistakenly identified another student with a similar name when searching for the suspect before the shooting occurred. This misidentification delayed the response, and 30 minutes later, law enforcement received reports of shots fired.
Family members of the victims have expressed frustration and anger, believing that the tragedy could have been prevented. They point to the prior warnings about the suspect's behavior and access to firearms, urging authorities to take swift action upon receiving such information.
The older sister of one of the victims emphasized that the situation was entirely preventable and criticized the lack of appropriate measures taken to avert the tragedy.
