Prosecutors in the Michigan school shooting have laid out charges against the parents of the suspect, Ethan Crumbley, 15, after investigators learned that they bought the gun, which he used to open fire at his schoolmates, as his Christmas present.
In a post on social media, mom Jennifer Crumbley wrote that she and her son went "testing out his new Christmas present," a 9mm Sig Sauer SP 2022. A day before she shared this statement, her son also posted a photo of his "new beauty," the weapon he brought to Oxford High School to kill four schoolmates and injure seven others.
During a news conference, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said that the school called in Ethan and his parents to the office days before the shooting because he drew a disturbing drawing of a firearm. The investigators also learned that he was researching guns while he was in school.
Ethan has been charged as an adult for terrorism and murder, among other crimes, because the prosecutors determined that his intentions to kill were deliberate. McDonald said that more people would likely be charged "to hold them accountable" for not preventing this incident.
'Learn Not to Get Caught'
Oxford High School officials contacted Jennifer to talk about their concerns for Ethan's internet activities while in school as he was searching about ammunition online. They were initially unable to get in touch with her, but investigators saw that she sent a message to her son saying that she was not mad. She also told her son that he must "learn not to get caught."
Merely hours before the Michigan school shooting, a teacher saw Ethan's disturbing drawings, which prompted an immediate meeting with the teenager, his parents, and the school guidance counselor. Ethan wrote the words, "Blood everywhere," "My life is useless," and "The thoughts won't stop, help me," on his drawings.
The counselor informed Jennifer and her husband, James Crumbley, that Ethan needs to be in counseling within 48 hours. During these meetings, the adults were not aware that Ethan had his gun with him because there were no backpack inspections or metal detectors in the school. He was also allowed to go back to his classes, which the prosecutor said was a mistake.
When the shooting incident reports came out, Jennifer apparently texted her son not to do it. His father, on the other hand, drove home to search for the gun. James then called 911 to report that it was missing and said he believed his son was the shooter.
Responsible Gun Ownership
Aside from holding the parents accountable, the prosecutor said they want to send a message of responsible gun ownership in charging Jennifer and James. The gun was legally purchased as a gift to their son, but the suspect had easy access to it because his parents placed it in their bedroom drawer. In Michigan, gun owners are not legally required to keep their weapons stashed and locked away from minors.
"There were a lot of things that could have been so simple to prevent," McDonald said, adding that she's furious about the violence in the Michigan school shooting as a prosecutor, a mother, and a citizen of America.
