Oxford High School shooting: suspect's parents charged with involuntary manslaughter

OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. (TCD) -- The Oakland County prosecuting attorney charged the Oxford High School shooting suspect’s parents Friday.

Prosecutor Karen McDonald announced in a press conference that James Crumbley and Jennifer Crumbley were each charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter.

According to McDonald, 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley posted a photo on social media of the 9mm Sig Sauer his father bought on Black Friday and called it his "new beauty." Jennifer Crumbley also posted about the weapon on social media and allegedly wrote, "Mom and son testing out his new Christmas present."

A teacher reportedly noticed Ethan searching for ammunition on his phone during class and reported it to school officials. The school called Jennifer and emailed her, but neither parent responded.

McDonald said Jennifer texted Ethan, "Lol I’m not mad at you. You have to learn not to get caught."

On the day of the shooting, a teacher reportedly found a note on Ethan’s desk portraying a picture of a semi-automatic handgun that pointed at the words "The thoughts won’t stop. Help me." Another part of the note allegedly showed a bullet with the words "blood everywhere" above it. Between the picture of the gun and the bullet, McDonald says there was a drawing of a person who looks like they had been shot and were bleeding. A laughing emoji was drawn below it.

Ethan allegedly penned, "My life is useless" and "The world is dead" on the paper as well.

By the time Ethan got to a counselor’s office, he allegedly "altered" the image by scratching out some of the sentences and drawings. The counselor reportedly told Jennifer and James that Ethan was required to go into counseling within 48 hours.

According to McDonald, Jennifer and James did not ask about Ethan’s gun and "failed to inspect his backpack for the presence of the gun."

The parents reportedly "resisted the idea of their son leaving the school at that time."

Ethan returned to the classroom.

McDonald said when news of the shooting broke out at the school, Jennifer texted her son, "Ethan, don’t do it."

James reportedly called 911 to report that the gun was missing from his house and he believed Ethan could be the shooter. The gun was reportedly stored in an unlocked drawer in James and Jennifer’s bedroom. The gun found at the scene reportedly matched the weapon James bought the day after Thanksgiving.

McDonald said at her press conference, "I want to be clear that these charges are intended to hold the individuals who contributed to this tragedy accountable and also send a message that gun owners have a responsibility. When they fail to uphold that responsibility, there are serious and criminal consequences."

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