US: Georgia school shooter texted mother before killing 4 people, wrote, I am sorry mom

The 14-year-old shooter, arrested for killing four people at a school in Georgia earlier this week, apologised to his mother in a text message before committing the crime, his family said. His message prompted her mother to call up the school in a bid to avoid the tragedy, they said.

In an interview with The Washington Post on Saturday, Charles Polhamus, the grandfather of the accused shooter, Colt Gray, said her daughter Marcee Gray had visited him at his home when she got a message from her son.

“I am sorry, mom,” the message read.

Immediately, Marcee Gray made a frantic call to the Apalachee High School and warned a counsellor of an “extreme emergency,” a relative told The Washington Post.

School officials appeared to try and prevent the tragedy after receiving Marcee Gray’s call, her sister Annie Brown and another student told The Washington Post.

Minutes before the shooting occurred on September 4, an administrator was searching for the shooter and went to his classroom, but he was not there.

Colt Gray, also a student at the school, immediately surrendered to authorities and was taken into custody. He is being charged as an adult with murder. At least 30 people were injured in the school shooting.

Colt and his father, Colin Gray, are both facing charges of murder. According to authorities, Colin gifted his son an AR-15-style assault rifle used in the shooting as a Christmas gift.

US President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump were among those who condemned the shooting.