Ethan Crumbley: Sheriff says suspect was ‘looking forward’ to attack as parents appear in court
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday
Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US
Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US
Ethan Crumbley’s parents pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter in connection to their son’s alleged shooting rampage at Oxford High School that led to the death of four students on Tuesday.
James and Jennifer Crumbley appeared at an arraignment in front of judge Julie Nicholson this morning after being arrested by Detroit Police around 1.30am earlier today.
The arrest came after officers found a vehicle, believed to belong to the Crumbleys late on Friday, when they were searching for the couple. The vehicle was reported by the owner of the industrial building where the couple was located.
James and Jennifer Crumbley, parents of the 15-year-old accused, had gone missing after being charged with involuntary manslaughter on Friday.
Prosecutor Karen McDonald announced the charges against James and Jennifer Crumbley on Friday, three days after their son Ethan allegedly killed four classmates and wounded seven others.
On Tuesday morning, the parents attended a meeting with Mr Crumbley and administrators after another teacher found a note on his desk with a drawing of a handgun that read: “The thoughts won’t stop, help me.”
The parents allegedly insisted Mr Crumbley return to class, and three hours later he carried out the massacre. When she heard reports of an active shooter, Jennifer Crumbley allegedly texted: “Ethan, don’t do it.”
Everything we know about Ethan Crumbley’s parents, who have been arrested and charged with manslaughter
Oxford school shooting suspect Ethan Crumbley’s mother weeps as she and husband plead not guilty after arrest
Oxford school shooting: Parents of alleged Michigan school shooter arrested in Detroit after going missing
Prosecutor says Crumbleys ‘could have stopped’ shooting
At James and Jennifer Crumbley’s arraignment on Saturday, prosecutor Karen McDonald excoriated the two parents for failing to prevent the shooting their son is accused of carrying out.
“This is a very serious, horrible, terrible murder and shooting, and it has affected the entire community, and these two individuals could have stopped it,” Ms McDonald told the judge. “They had every reason to know that he was dangerous, and they gave him a weapon and they didn’t secure it and they allowed him free access to it.”
Detroit police chief decries scourge of US shootings: ‘We’re tired of this’
At a press conference just after the capture of James and Jennifer Crumbley, Detroit Police Chief James White lamented the long chain of shootings that have plagued the United States.
“We’re tired of this,” Mr White said. “This is awful.”
Everything we know about Ethan Crumbley’s parents
Officials say Ethan Crumbley’s parents bought him a gun, practiced shooting it with him, ignored warning signs that he was considering violence, and went on the run when charges were announced against them.
The Crumbleys have pleaded not guilty, and deny that they ever fled.
Here’s everything we know so far about the couple:
Everything we know about Ethan Crumbley’s parents, who were charged with manslaughter
Officials said Ethan Crumbley’s parents bought him a gun, practiced shooting it with him, and had warning signs he was considering violence prior to the shooting, before the couple purportedly went on the run
‘Ethan don’t do it’: Mother’s texts to shooting suspect revealed
As news broke of the shooting at Oxford High School, Ethan Crumbley’s mother sent him a text: “Ethan don’t do it.”
The message was revealed by Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald during a press conference on Friday, as she announced charges against both of the suspect’s parents.
Read more here:
Michigan school shooting: Ethan Crumbley’s mom texted him ‘don’t do it’
The teen’s mother, Jennifer Crumbley, also allegedly laughed off his son being caught reading about ammunition while in class
Detroit police say 911 caller led them to Crumbleys
An unnamed tipster helped police find James and Jennifer Crumbley, the Detroit Police Department says.
“Lt Scott Hall and Sgt Chris Rabior of 7th Precinct were some of the first on the scene and made a quick decision to set up a perimeter following a tip from a 911 caller,” the DPD said on Twitter. “This would not be possible without our community. Thank you, #OneDetroit!”
Police say ‘a call about the suspect vehicle’ led to Crumbleys’ arrest
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office says it was a call about “the suspect vehicle” that led Detroit police to James and Jennifer Crumbley.
“Kudos to the Detroit Police Department for a great response to a call about the suspect vehicle,” the OCSO said on Facebook. “We wish to thank all of the agencies that assisted Detroit and our fugitive apprehension team on scene including Border Patrol, MSP, and the US Marshals.”
Separately, the Detroit Police Department has said that an anonymous 911 caller gave a crucial tip that led to the arrest.
GOP congressman and family pose with guns for Christmas photo days after shooting
Republican congressman Thomas Massie has sparked outrage by posting a Christmas photo of his family posing with a trove of firearms, just days after four students were murdered in America’s deadliest school shooting since 2018.
The Kentucky congressman shared the family portrait on Twitter on Saturday, along with the caption: “Merry Christmas! PS Santa, please bring ammo.”
Mr Massie is seen posing with his wife and members of their family in front of a Christmas tree in a holiday card-style image.
Read more here:
GOP Rep Thomas Massie poses with guns in Christmas family photo after school shooting
Thomas Massie condemned by gun control activists and gun owners over social media for posing with assault rifles in holiday photo in wake of Oxford school massacre
Oakland sheriff says Crumbleys were clearly ‘hiding’ when they were found
Jennifer and James Crumbley were clearly hiding when police found them in a Detroit warehouse, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said at a press conference.
“I’m not going to get into specifics, but I think where they were and how they were seems to support the position they were hiding and they weren’t looking for surrendering at that point” Sheriff Michael Bouchard told reporters.
Sheriff says Oxford is ‘inundated with threats’ following school shooting
Officials say Oxford has been “inundated with threats” since the shooting, and a vigil for the victims descended into chaos on Friday night.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said in a press conference on Saturday afternoon that the tight-knit town in Michigan had been rocked by a “huge spike in threats” in the aftermath of Tuesday’s massacre at Oxford High School.
“We’re inundated with threats right now,” he said. “We have threats against the candlelight vigil last night. We’ve had threats against memorials, we had threats against individuals, deputies or law enforcement... It’s absolutely absurd that after a tragedy we see a huge spike in threats, but that’s what we’re seeing.”
Read more here:
Oxford ‘inundated with threats’ after deadly school shooting, says sheriff
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard says the tight-knit town in Michigan has been rocked by a ‘huge spike in threats’ in the aftermath of Tuesday’s massacre at Oxford High School
Ethan Crumbley was ‘actually looking forward to’ shooting, sheriff says
Michigan school shooting suspect Ethan Crumbley had been “looking forward to” carrying out the “premeditated” massacre at his high school, according to authorities.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said at a press conference on Saturday afternoon that there is evidence that the 15-year-old sophomore student planned the attack in advance.
“We have clear evidence it was premeditated and he was actually looking forward to it,” he said.
Read more here:
Sheriff: Ethan Crumbley was ‘looking forward to’ premeditated Oxford school shooting
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard says Ethan Crumbley planned the attack in advance before he allegedly shot dead four fellow students