The mother and father of shooter Ethan Crumbley were arrested after an hours-long manhunt
James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of Ethan Crumbley who shot killed four and injured seven in a school shooting on November 30th, have been arrested after hours of searching.
As reported in multiple outlets, the mother and father were charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter after the 15-year-old is thought to have used his dad’s semi-automatic handgun in the attack at Oxford High School.
BREAKING: Parents of Michigan teen accused in Oxford school shooting caught in Detroit after vehicle found, sheriff's office says. https://t.co/JRqZ6pD4AN
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 4, 2021
However, the pair did not turn up for their scheduled arraignment on Friday and police were called to a business owner’s car park in Detroit where despite attempting to flee the area on foot, they were both ultimately take into custody “without incident”.
While their attorneys defended the couple, insisting that “The Crumbleys left town on the night of the tragic shooting for their own safety”, insisting that they were “not fleeing from law enforcement.” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said, “The action of fleeing and ignoring their attorney certainly adds weight to the charges. They cannot run from their part in this tragedy.”
On Friday, US Congress paid tribute to those who lost their lives with a reading of their names and a minute’s silence, with Democrat Elissa Slotkin drawing attention to the numerous other incidents that continue to occur across America.
A Michigan congressional delegation led a moment of silence in the Capitol on Dec. 2 to honor the four students killed in a school shooting.
Their names were Hana St. Juliana, 14; Tate Myre, 16; Madisyn Baldwin, 17; and Justin Shilling, 17. pic.twitter.com/R8I4ieIYqE
— NPR (@NPR) December 3, 2021
While Crumbley has said little to the police and there has been no clear indication as to his motivation behind the shooting, other details are beginning to emerge surrounding the case.
ABC News reports that a teacher saw the teen researching ammunition in class days before the shooting and prosecutor Karen McDonald revealed that on the morning of the shooting, one of his teachers saw an alarming note on his desk.
Ethan Crumbley was apparently drawing pictures of guns and people with bullet wounds hours before he opened fire in school. Crumbley's parents were also notified about this and didn't seem particularly worried about it. pic.twitter.com/S53We7yn7W
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 3, 2021
Describing the image, she said it was “a drawing of a semi-automatic handgun pointing at the words, ‘The thoughts won’t stop, help me.'”; elsewhere, there was a “drawing of a bullet with the following words above that bullet, ‘Blood everywhere’
“Between the drawing of the gun and the bullet is a drawing of a person who appears to have been shot twice and bleeding. Below that figure is a drawing of a laughing emoji. Further down the drawing are the words, ‘My life is useless,’ and to the right of that are the words, ‘The world is dead.'”
Equally alarmingly, McDonald also revealed that mother Jennifer apparently texted her son following the shooting, writing “lol, I’m not mad at you, you have to learn not to get caught.”
Some outlets have also reported that the firearm itself was actually purchased by James Crumbley who bought it for his son on Black Friday.
Re the Michigan School shooting:
The gun was bought by his father during black Friday sales for his son… pic.twitter.com/3HQHbQSGax
— Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) December 3, 2021
The Michigan school shooting is just the latest in a staggering 221 incidents in 2021 alone and the debate around gun control is once again an ever-present concern among US citizens.
Related links
- Chilling video shows moment step mum tried to get away with murdering boy, 6
- Belgian court says enforcing Covid vaccine pass is illegal
- Harrowing video shows teen blasted in the face with shotgun – and survive
