FBI received tips about online threats involving suspected Georgia school shooter

The FBI received tips about online threats last year involving then-13-year-old Colt Gray, the suspect in Wednesday's shooting at Apalachee High School, the bureau's Atlanta office said Wednesday.

In May of 2023, the FBI's National Threat Operations Center got anonymous tips about online threats to commit a school shooting at an unidentified location, federal agents posted on X, previously Twitter.

The threats contained images of guns and the FBI determined that the posts originated in Georgia, specifically in Jackson County. The FBI turned over the evidence to the Jackson County Sheriff's office, which interviewed Gray and his father, who said that he had hunting guns in the house but Gray did not have access to them.

There was no probable cause at the time for an arrest or additional law enforcement action, the post said. Jackson County passed on information to local schools.

Apalachee High School is in Barrow County and not a part of Jackson County schools or any city schools within Jackson County. It is uncertain whether Gray attended a school in Jackson County before moving into the Barrow County School District.

GBI Director Chris Hosey confirmed the FBI information during a 9 p.m. news conference.

On Wednesday, Gray was identified as the GBI as the suspect who killed two teachers and two students while injuring nine others at Apalachee High School.

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office responded on Facebook with a note from Sheriff Janis Mangum.

"My phone is blowing up with messages from people about social media postings about other possible incidents. To my knowledge, there is not a list indicating any of this," the post read. "This is an ongoing investigation at Apalachee. Please be mindful of those who have been affected by this tragedy and continue to pray for all involved."

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: FBI: Georgia school shooter surfaced in 2023 probe of online threats