The mother of the teenager accused in the shooting rampage that killed two students and two teachers in a Georgia high school last week apologized to the families of the victims in an open letter.
Marcee Gray ‘s letter, obtained by CNN , also insists that 14-year-old Colt Gray “is not a monster.”
Colt Gray is charged with four counts of felony murder in the deaths of math teachers Cristina Irimie , 53, and Richard Aspinwall , 39, and 14-year-old students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo.
“To the parents and families of those affected by the tragic events at Apalachee High School, I want to say that I am so sorry from the bottom of my heart,” the letter says. “If I could take the place of Mason and Christian, I would without a second thought.”
She added her “heart breaks for the 2 teachers who gave their lives while in the service of teaching and protecting our children.”
Eight other students and a teacher were wounded in the Sept. 4 shooting that rocked the small town of Winder. Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith has said Gray, armed with an “an AR-platform style weapon,” opened fire around 10:20 a.m., was quickly confronted by deputies assigned to the school and immediately surrendered.