Ethan Crumbley's parents are facing involuntary manslaughter charges after the 15-year-old allegedly killed four students at Michigan's Oxford High School on Tuesday.
During a press conference on Friday, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said, "based on the information and evidence I have received today I am announcing charges against the shooter's parents, Jennifer and James Crumbley. The charges are as follows: James Crumbley is charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter. Jennifer Crumbley is also charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter."
The investigation into the shooting revealed that James Crumbley purchased a Sig Saur semi-automatic pistol on November 26 and an employee of the store where the gun was purchased confirmed that Ethan Crumbley was present when the gun was purchased, according to McDonald.
McDonald also explained that Ethan Crumbley's social media posts included posts of the gun, including one that had a caption that read "just got my new beauty today."
Crumbley has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder after allegedly shooting four of his fellow students on Tuesday. He was also charged with seven counts of assault with intent to murder, terrorism, and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
After announcing the charges against Crumbley, McDonald said that her office was also considering filing possible charges against the 15-year-old's parents. The gun Crumbley used was purchased by his father just a few days before the shooting, according to McDonald.
"We're reviewing potential charges and hope to have an announcement about that in the next 24 hours," McDonald said on Thursday. "The parents were the only individuals in the position to know the access to weapons."
McDonald added that the gun Crumbley allegedly used "seems to have been just freely available to" him.
On Thursday, McDonald spoke with NewsNation Now's Mornings in America and said, "Because with the right to gun ownership also brings responsibilities and the details that surround the access to that gun by mom and dad will be released very soon."
"But yes, we're considering very serious charges. It goes far beyond negligence of a parent, let me just put it that way," McDonald added.
Crumbley is being charged as an adult and made his first court appearance on Wednesday. During his arraignment, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Marc Keast described video evidence of the Oxford shooting and said that at around 12:51 p.m. on Tuesday, Crumbley was seen walking into the school's bathroom holding a backpack.
"A minute or two later, he exited the same bathroom without the backpack, but with a gun in hand. At that point, he methodically and deliberately walked down a hallway, aiming the firearm at students and firing," Keast said.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Matthew Impelli is a Newsweek staff writer based in New York. His focus is reporting social issues and crime. In ... Read more
