Parents arrested in Michigan school shooting

The parents of a teen who shot and killed four classmates at an Oxford, Mich., high school were jailed on manslaughter charges with bail set at a combined $1 million. Police arrested James and Jennifer Crumbley late Friday in Detroit. Their attorneys said the couple left town for their safety, not to evade arrest. Both of them pleaded not guilty in court on Saturday morning. Their 15-year-old son, Ethan, has been charged as an adult with two dozen crimes such as murder, attempted murder, and terrorism.

What did the parents do? Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald accused them of “egregious acts” including buying the gun used in the shooting as a present for their son and not responding adequately to school officials’ concerns about Ethan. On the day of the shooting, a teacher found a drawing of a gun in Ethan’s desk and the words, “the thoughts won’t stop. help me.” Police said administrators summoned the Crumbleys and told them to get counseling for their son immediately, but they resisted taking him out of school at the time. In Michigan, a minor may possess a firearm in public only if someone 18 or older directly supervises them. The manslaughter charge indicates prosecutors believe the parents contributed to a situation where there was a high chance of harm or death.

Dig deeper: Read Barton J. Gingerich’s column for WORLD Opinions addressing the causes of violence in schools.

Editor’s note: WORLD has updated this report since its initial posting.