Parents of Michigan shooter Ethan Crumbley, 15, go on the RUN after being charged with manslaughter for his school rampage that left four dead: Prosecutors reveal they bought the 9mm handgun for him for CHRISTMAS
The parents of accused Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbley are now on the run from police, just hours after a prosecutor announced involuntary manslaughter charges against them and revealed stunning details about the murder weapon that was a Christmas gift for the 15-year-old, whom police say shot dead four students after penning a disturbing note saying 'thoughts won't stop, help me.'
Police have issued a 'be on the lookout alert' for James and Jennifer Crumbley, who were charged Friday with four counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with Tuesday's deadly shooting and have until 4pm to turn themselves in. The charges carry a sentence of up to 15 years in prison.
Jennifer bragged on social media about going out with Ethan to test his Christmas present - a 9mm handgun - just three days before the shooting at Oxford High School, and just one day after her husband James had purchased the gun for Ethan.
The prosecutor revealed that James, who - like his wife - had a prior criminal history, bought the murder weapon from a retailer with his son there on November 26. He stored the 9mm handgun in an unlocked drawer in his bedroom, McDonald said.
The next day, Jennifer posted about the Christmas present to Instagram with the caption: 'Mom & son day testing out his new Xmas [sic] present.’ Jennifer's Instagram account has since been taken down.
Less than a week before the gun was purchased, on November 21, McDonald said a teacher at Oxford High School observed Ethan searching ammunition on his cell during class and reported it to school officials.
Jennifer was contacted via voicemail by the school about her son's inappropriate internet search, and officials followed up with an email but received no response, the prosecutor said.
The mother later exchanged texts with her son on that day stating: 'lol, I’m not mad at you, you have to learn not to get caught,' McDonald said Friday.
She also revealed that on the morning of the shooting, a teacher found a chilling note on Ethan's desk, which featured disturbing drawings depicting a semi-automatic gun, a bullet, a shooting victim and a laughing emoji.
Jennifer and James were immediately summoned to the school to discuss their son's worrying behavior. A school counselor was able to obtain the note with the drawing, but McDonald said by then the noted had been 'altered.'
The doodles of the gun and the bullet-ridden figure were ‘scratched out,’ as well as Ethan’s writings.
During the meeting, the Crumbleys were shown the note and were advised that they were required to get Ethan into counselling within 48 hours.
According to the prosecutor, the mother and father failed to ask Ethan if he had his gun with him, or where his gun was, and did not inspect his backpack.
McDonald said the parents ‘resisted’ the idea of pulling their son out of the school at that time and left without him.
Officials previously said that at 12.51pm, Ethan walked into a bathroom at Oakland High School with a backpack, then emerged less than a minute later carrying the Sig Sauer handgun and opened fire.
At 1.22pm - more than 30 minutes after the shooting was first reported - Jennifer texted her son, saying: 'Ethan, don't do it,' the prosecutor said.
At 1.37pm, James called 911, reporting his newly purchased gun missing. He also told an emergency dispatcher that he believed his son might be the shooter at Oxford High School.
James and Jennifer were scheduled to be arraigned at 4pm, but authorities reported the pair were not in custody as of late Friday afternoon.
Charging documents allege that the parents caused the death of each of the four deceased victims by 'storing his or her firearm and its ammunition so as to allow access to the firearm and ammunition by his or her minor child or the grossly negligent failure... to exercise reasonable care to control his or her minor child so as to prevent him from intentionally harming others or from so conducting himself so as to create an unreasonable risk of bodily harm to others knowing that he or she has the ability to control his or her child and knowing of the necessity and opportunity to do so.'
Timeline of Oxford High School Shooting:
NOVEMBER 21:
Teacher saw Ethan Crumbley searching about ammunition on his cell phone during class.
His mother Jennifer was contacted about an 'inappropriate internet search.' The school followed up via email but received no response.
NOVEMBER 21:
That same day, Jennifer texted Ethan 'lol I'm not mad at you, you have to learn not to get caught,' Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald said.
NOVEMBER 26:
Ethan's father James purchased the 9 mm Sig Sauer SP 2022 for Ethan from Acme Shooting Goods in Oxford.
His son was with him.
NOVEMBER 27:
Jennifer posted a message on social media that read: 'Mom and son day testing out his new Xmas present.’
NOVEMBER 30:
A teacher found a chilling note on Ethan’s desk that featured disturbing drawings depicting a gun, a bullet, blood everywhere, a shooting victim and a laughing emoji.
The note included the words: 'Thoughts won't stop, help me'; 'my life is useless' and 'the world is dead,' McDonald said.
Jennifer and James were immediately summoned to the school for a meeting.
They failed to ask if their son had the gun with him or where it was, and they failed to inspect his backpack for the gun, which he did have with him, McDonald said.
They left the school without Ethan.
12:51 pm:
Ethan allegedly shoots and kills four students
1:22 pm:
Jennifer texted Ethan 'don't do it.'
The shooting had already taken place.
1:37 pm:
James called 911 to report the gun missing and said he thinks his son might have it.
DECEMBER 1:
Ethan charged with two dozen crimes, including murder, attempted murder and terrorism.
DECEMBER 3:
Jennifer and James are charged with four counts each of involuntary manslaughter.
Jennifer Crumbley and James Crumbley, the parents of Michigan school shooting suspect Ethan Crumbley, were charged on Friday with involuntary manslaughter and are now being sought by the police.
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