Mother of suspected Georgia shooter Colt Gray apologizes to victims in open letter: Son is “not a monster”

The mother of the suspect in the Georgia school massacre, Colt Gray, apologized to the families of the victims in an open letter – while stressing that her son was “not a monster.”

“To the parents and families of those affected by the tragic events at Apalachee High School, I want to say from the bottom of my heart that I am so sorry,” wrote Marcee Gray, Colt Gray's mother, in the letter she provided to CNN.

“If I could take Mason and Christian's place, I would do it without hesitation,” she said, referring to the two 14-year-olds killed in the mass shooting. She later added that her “heart breaks for the two teachers who gave their lives in the service of educating and protecting our children.”

The mother continued: “We are all living a living nightmare right now and I personally will never forgive myself for what happened.”

“My son Colt is not a monster. He is my oldest baby. He is calm, thoughtful, caring, funny and extremely intelligent. Please pray for him and the rest of our family as I pray for all of you every moment of the day,” she wrote.

Her letter comes a week after the teenager allegedly carried out the shooting that left two teachers and two students dead at Apalachee High School.

Seven other people were wounded by gunfire in the attack at the school in Winder, Georgia, and two others suffered other injuries, authorities said.