Parents Of Michigan Alleged School Shooter Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter After Four Students Died While The 15-Year-Old Suspect Remains Behind Bars
Dec. 3 2021, Published 1:49 p.m. ET
The parents of the Michigan school shooter, Jennifer & James Crumbley, have been charged with involuntary manslaughter after their son was accused of fatally shooting four students and wounding six others at Oxford High School.
According to officials, the 15-year-old suspect, Ethan Crumbley, is being held in custody and will be charged as an adult.
On Tuesday afternoon, around 12:52 PM, police were called out to the school after more than 100 calls to 911 were made. Upon their arrival to the scene, the authorities found the students and teachers barricading doors and hiding in classrooms.
The Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard claimed within three minutes of entering the school, the deputies arrested the suspect. Crumbley put his hands up as soon as he saw the officers before they immediately took away the gun from him.
The officials shared the suspect used a 9mm Sig Sauer SP2022 semiautomatic pistol during the shooting. The suspect's father reportedly had purchased the weapon on Friday, four days before the shooting occurred.
Authorities found more than 30 shell casings and three 15-round magazines at the scene. Bouchard said, "We believe he fired at least 30 shots" before adding that the suspect had 18 rounds left, with seven in his pocket.
"With this ammunition still with him...the quick actions of the school and the lockdown as well as the deputies going to the danger, saved lives," Bouchard added.
The four students killed in the shooting have been identified as Madisyn Baldwin, 17, Tate Myre, 16, Hana St. Juliana, 14, and Justin Shilling, 17.
Officials explained Myre died in the police car while being transported to the hospital, and Shiling passed away the following morning.
Among the six students injured in the shooting, one 14-year-old girl was put on a ventilator after surgery, while a 14-year-old boy had a gunshot wound to the jaw and head. Meanwhile, the official said Wednesday that two other students and the teacher were released from the hospital.
Hours before the deadly tragedy took place, Ethan was found with a disturbing drawing that featured a firearm and someone who appeared to be bleeding.
The counselor reportedly told his parents that their son needed counseling and could return to the class afterward.
Following the deadly attack, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald charged James and Jennifer Crumbley with four counts of involuntary manslaughter. At the same time, the alleged shooter Ethan, a sophomore at the school, was charged with four counts of murder, terrorism, and other crimes in what investigators described as a systematic and deliberate massacre.
McDonald said, "the facts of this case are so egregious," and "he shouldn't have gone back to that classroom" after the disturbing drawing incident.
The case is still under investigation.