National Post (National Edition)
Parents of shooting suspect charged
A Michigan prosecutor has filed charges against the parents of a 15-year-old boy accused of fatally shooting his classmates at his high school earlier this week, a rare move she said was justified by the “egregious” facts of the case.
James and Jennifer Crumbley, parents of shooting suspect Ethan Crumbley, face four counts each of involuntary manslaughter, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald announced Friday. Authorities say the teen killed four students and wounded seven people at Oxford High School, some 60 kilometres north of Detroit, on Nov. 30 while using a semi-automatic pistol purchased days earlier by his father.
“While the shooter was the one who entered the high school and pulled the trigger, there were other individuals who contributed to the events,” McDonald said.
Later Friday, a fugitive warrant was issued for James and Jennifer Crumbley, who had been scheduled for arraignment on four counts of manslaughter each later in the day.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard told CNN police were searching for the Crumbleys after the couple's attorney told his office that the Crumbleys stopped responding to messages.
“If they think they're going to get away, they're not,” Bouchard said.
James Crumbley bought the 9mm Sig Sauer on Nov. 26. A store employee confirmed Ethan was present, McDonald said. She cited the parents' social media posts that confirm the gun was for their son. A post by Jennifer Crumbley shortly after the gun was purchased showed her and Ethan at a gun range, captioned: “Mom and son day testing out his new Christmas present.”
On Nov. 21, a teacher had noticed Ethan searching on his phone for information on ammunition. When his mother was contacted via voicemail about her son's search, she did not respond, McDonald said. Instead, she texted her son: “LOL I'm not mad at you. You have to learn not to get caught.”
On the day of the shooting, the Crumbleys had been summoned to the school after a teacher took a photo of a troubling note she found at Ethan's desk, McDonald said.
She noted that at no point during the meeting did his parents ask him if he had the gun or check his backpack.
Ethan returned to class, and less than three hours later the first 911 calls were made. When news of the active shooting became public, McDonald said Jennifer Crumbley texted her son “Ethan, don't do it.”