Shooter’s parents in court; $500k guaranty per person
INTRODUCTION – James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of the teenager charged in the Oxford High School shooting, have pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter Saturday morning. Judge Julie Nicholson of Rochester Hills District Court placed the bond at $500,000 each.
Crumbley’s parents were not available to make arrangements Friday afternoon in Rochester Hills, Michigan. US Police Department Release of “Wanted” poster and offer a reward for information leading to their arrest. They were located and arrested early Saturday in Detroit, more than two hours after a resident saw their vehicle and called police.
Authorities have been searching for the Crumbleys since about noon Friday after they were charged with four counts involuntary manslaughter in a fatal shooting at a high school in Michigan. Their son, Ethan Crumbley, 15 years old, is accused of shooting dead 4 students and injured seven others at a suburban Detroit high school on Tuesday.
Jennifer and James Crumbley were once accused involuntary manslaughter after Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said they bought the gun for her son as a Christmas present.
The investigation into the shooting and the search for the Crumbleys is directed by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. Oakland County Sheriff Mike McCabe said the vehicle was found around 11:30 p.m. Friday.
By about 1:45 a.m., the Crumbleys were arrested. Detroit Police Chief James White told reporters. They were unarmed, he added.
White said police believe someone let the Crumbleys into the building. He said those supporting the couple could face criminal charges.
But the family’s attorney said the couple were not on the run from authorities and were returning to the area after leaving town briefly amid the chaos surrounding the tragedy.
Attorneys Smith and Mariell Lehman said: “The Crumbleys left town on the night of the tragic shooting for their own safety. They are returning to the settlement area.”
The gun had been stored in an unlocked drawer in their home, and Crumbley’s parents didn’t ask where it was when they were called to the school on the day of the shooting because of a disturbing drawing of their son. their guns, McDonald said. Friday conference.
Ethan Crumbley posted online about the gun and ammunition research while at school, McDonald said the investigation revealed. She was also allowed to return to the classroom on the day of the shooting after a meeting with her parents, she said.
“The facts of this case are too serious,” McDonald said.
Experts said:The Michigan school shooting was ‘too serious,’ the suspect’s parents were charged.
Michigan school shooting suspect faces life in prison: What does murder and terrorism mean?
On Wednesday, Crumbley was charged as an adult with murder, terrorism and other charges that investigators described as a deliberate and methodical massacre.
When asked if her office was reviewing the charges against any school officials, McDonald said the investigation was continuing.
“While the shooter is someone who entered the high school and pulled the trigger, there were other individuals who contributed to the events of November 30 and I also intend to hold them accountable,” she said. .
Here’s what we know:
Prosecutor: Gun is a ‘Christmas gift’
At a press conference Friday, McDonald’s presented how Ethan Crumbley received other warning signs about weapons in the days leading up to the shooting.
McDonald said Ethan Crumbley was there when his father bought the 9mm Sig Sauer SP 2022 gun on November 26. On the same day, his son Crumbley posted a picture of the weapon online, calling it “the new beauty”. His mother said in a post the next day, “Mother and son day trying out his new Christmas present,” McDonald said.
“Obviously based on the shooter’s account (and) the mother’s account, it was his gun,” McDonald said.
Prosecutors: School officials who knew the shooting suspect searched the internet for bullets, drew drawings
The suspect’s drawing caused anxiety on the day of the execution
The 15-year-old suspect was also caught looking up ammunition online while at school before the shooting. McDonald’s said school officials contacted the boy’s mother about searching online, leaving voicemails and emails, but received no response. Instead, Crumbley’s mother texted him the same day, “LOL – League of Legends, I’m not mad at you. You have to learn not to get caught,” McDonald said.
Hours before the shooting, Crumbley was found with a disturbing drawing that included a gun and a person who appeared to be bleeding, McDonald said.
A teacher took a photo of the drawing and immediately contacted Crumbley’s parents. When the drawing was presented to a school counselor in the presence of Crumbley and his parents, McDonald said, Crumbley modified it.
A counselor told parents their son needed counseling, but Crumbley was able to return to class. McDonald said his parents did not ask him about the gun at the time, nor did they search his backpack.
“Of course, he shouldn’t have gone back to that classroom,” McDonald added.
After reporting the school shooting, Jennifer Crumbley texted her son, “Ethan don’t do that,” McDonald said. James Crumbley drove home to search for the gun and called 911 to report it missing, saying he believed his son was the shooter, McDonald said.
“I am angry as a mother. I am angry as a prosecutor. I am angry as a person who lives in this county. I am angry. There are so many things that could be so simple. to prevent,” McDonald said.
Mimic threats across troubled Detroit schools, parents
Copy threats circulating on social media and school districts canceled classes on Thursday out of an abundance of caution for student safety.
A 17-year-old student from Southfield, about 30 kilometers from Oxford High School, was arrested on Thursday with a semi-automatic pistol. A bomb threat was also made at South Lake High School, about 45 miles from Oxford, and prompted an investigation by police.
“If you’re threatening, we’ll find you,” Bouchard said at a Thursday news conference specifically called to address an estimated hundreds of reported imitation threats. “It’s ridiculous that you’re fanning the fears and passions of parents, teachers and the community in the middle of a real tragedy.”
The FBI and Secret Service are also investigating the threats.
McDonald’s said those who make false threats could face charges of false terrorist threats, a 20-year felony, and malicious use of a phone.
Meanwhile, parents are on the right track in ensuring their children’s security without compromising their child’s mental and emotional health.
Jill Dillon, 51, recalls dropping her 14-year-old son to school on Wednesday morning. “It’s nauseating, to think that I have to get him somewhere safe, and will he really be safe?”
David Roden, a 14-year-old freshman at Northville High School, which remains open on Thursday, said the confusion between what is real and what isn’t is the scariest part.
“Everybody has an advantage. It’s just kind of weird, close to the situation,” he said.
– Miriam Marini, Detroit Free Press
Fake Instagram accounts multiply
Fake social media accounts claiming to be the 15-year-old charged in the Oxford High School shooting began to emerge even before his name was released by law enforcement, and some made threats of Additional shootings and revenge plans.
While direct threats can lead to criminal charges, the spread of misinformation through deceptive accounts is a common problem following mass shootings, which often do not violate the law. violate the law and sometimes do not violate the terms of service of social media platforms.
“Unfortunately, poor taste is not against the law,” said Lt. Mike Shaw of the Michigan State Police.
Cliff Lampe, a professor at the University of Michigan’s School of Information, said none of the social media accounts documenting Crumbley’s alleged criminal activity were still active on these platforms.
In active threat situations, the social media accounts of the alleged perpetrators are taken down through an opaque process, Lampe said. Platforms are alerted by their own algorithms or by law enforcement.
Lampe said the trend of social media platforms to make some user accounts “disappear overnight” could help create these fake accounts. However, the common practice of setting up “sock puppets” online will happen despite, he said.
“Puppet accounts and fake accounts have been part of internet culture for as long as the internet has,” Lampe said. Read more here.
– Ashley Nerbovig, Detroit Free Press
Contributors: Darcie Moran, Tyler J. Davis, Phoebe Wall Howard, Elisha Anderson, Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press; Christine Fernando, USA TODAY; Related press