Teenager's grandfather: 'Evil' father of Georgia school massacre suspect should face death penalty

The grandfather of the teenager accused of carrying out a shooting at a Georgia school that left two teachers and two students dead has called for the boy's “evil” father to be given the death penalty.

Charles Polhamus, 81, is the maternal grandfather of 14-year-old suspected Apalachee High School shooter Colt Gray. Polhamus said his former son-in-law, Colin Gray, should face the harshest punishment possible under U.S. law.

“To spend 11 years with this son of a bitch who screams and yells every day – that can happen to anyone,” he told New York Post“He is evil.”

The grandfather agreed that his grandson should be brought to justice for the crimes he was accused of, but said that his father's influence had undoubtedly driven the boy to violence.

“Colt has to pay for what he did, but I'm telling you, he was driven, there's no doubt in my mind about that,” Polhamus told the outlet. “He was driven by his father to do what he did. That's as clear as I can put it, and I know I'm right.”

Gray, an elderly man, is facing four counts of manslaughter, two counts of first-degree murder and eight counts of child abuse for his alleged involvement in the shooting.

Investigators say the elder Gray gave his son the AR-15-style rifle used in Wednesday's shooting.

Polhamus said his former son-in-law “got what he deserved” when he was charged, but went a step further and told the New York Post that he “needs the death penalty.”

If convicted, Gray faces up to 180 years in prison.

His son Colt has been charged with four counts of murder and will be tried as an adult, according to prosecutors. If convicted, he faces a life sentence in prison.

Polhamus insists that his grandson was a “good boy” before spending his formative years with a “dysfunctional father who was a screamer and a yeller.”

He also stressed that his daughter is a “good person” who was only trying to help her son. However, she also has a long criminal record with numerous arrests for drug offenses and domestic violence.

The New York Post I spoke to a neighbor who claimed that Colt's mother regularly “locked him and his sister out of the house.”

“And they were banging on the back door and screaming 'Mama! Mama! Mama!' and crying. It was absolutely devastating,” the woman, who wished to remain anonymous, told the newspaper.

Colt texted his mother the day of the shooting, saying, “I'm sorry, Mom.” She reportedly tried to call the school to warn them that her son might become violent, but by the time she received the text, the attack had already occurred.