Barrow County Superior Court Judge Nicolas Primm ruled Monday that jurors for the trial for Colin Gray, father of the alleged Apalachee High School Shooter, will be selected from Hall County.
The decision comes after Colin’s attorneys filed for a change in venue in late March. The motion claimed he could not receive a fair trial in Barrow County, due to extensive media coverage of the case.
Colin is accused of allowing his son, Colt, access to the weapon used in the shooting. He faces dozens of charges in the case, including second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, second-degree cruelty to children and reckless conduct.
The trial, which is set for September 8, will still be held in Barrow County despite the imported jury.
The order filed by Primm stated that the State initially recommended the Court use jurors from Walton County for the trial. However, the court was “disinclined” to use the jury, as Apalachee High School is three miles away from the Walton County line. The proximity of the two locations sparked concerns that a jury from Walton County could also have ties to the Barrow County community, potentially creating a bias among jurors.
Bryan, Glynn and Effingham counties were also considered to be the location for the trial. The counties' courthouses were not selected due to their inability to accommodate a three-week trial. The order also said that holding the trial in Barrow County would eliminate complications of daily housing and securing and transporting Gray, should he continue to be unable to post bond.
After conferring with Northeastern Circuit Chief Judge Jason Deal, Barrow Court officials decided a jury selected for Hall County would best suit the case.
The Hall County Courthouse is 30 miles away from Apalachee High School and 25 from the Barrow County courthouse. Primm said the locations are far enough away to minimize concerns of a biased jury, while also not “causing additional burden to those jurors."
Colt also filed a change of venue for his trial. While Primm previously decided that the jury would also not be selected from Barrow County, no location has been announced for the proceedings.
