Shooter’s parents charged with involuntary manslaughter

OXFORD, Mich. — In a press conference at noon on Friday, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald announced her office has pressed charges against the parents of school shooter Ethan Crumbley.

McDonald said she officially charged James and Jennifer Crumbley with four four counts of involuntary manslaughter each. During her conference, she recounted evidence from social media that the Crumbleys purchased the semi-automatic handgun as an early Christmas present for their 15-year-old son. She also described the morning before the shooting, when the parents refused to take Ethan home after a teacher found a disturbing note with violent drawings on his desk.

McDonald would not comment on whether the parents are in custody. She added that she was “not here to say people shouldn’t own guns,” and that gun owners have a responsibility to keep weapons out of the hands of children.

Ethan Crumbley killed four people and injured eight others at Oxford High School on Tuesday.