Michigan School Shooting Prosecutor Says She May Charge Suspect’s Parents

A Michigan prosecutor said Wednesday that she is considering charging the parents of a 15-year-old suspected of killing four students and wounding seven others at an Oxford high school, NPR reports.

Prosecutors say 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley used a 9mm handgun his father bought on Black Friday, just days before the shooting, to open fire on students at Oxford High School.

Four students were killed in the shooting and six other students and a teacher suffered gunshot wounds.

The attack marked the deadliest school shooting since eight students and two teachers were killed in 2018 in Texas’ Santa Fe High School.

It is the 48th school shooting this year and the 32nd since August 1.

Investigators said Crumbley fired at least 30 shots.

Police say Crumbley put his hands up and was arrested after encountering police.

Terrorism charges:

Crumbley, who is being charged as an adult, faces two dozen charges, including first-degree murder, attempted murder, and terrorism.

 Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald acknowledged that the terrorism charge is “not a usual, typical charge.”

"What about all the children who ran, screaming, hiding under desks? What about all the children at home right now, who can't eat and can't sleep and can't imagine a world where they could ever step foot back in that school? Those are victims, too, and so are their families and so is the community," McDonald said. "The charge of terrorism reflects that."

Crumbley has pleaded not guilty.

Parents could face prosecution:

McDonald said Crumbley’s parents could be held liable for the shooting.

"We know that owning a gun means securing it properly and locking it and keeping the ammunition separate and not allowing access to other individuals, particularly minors," she said. "We have to hold individuals accountable who don't do that.”

Investigators say Crumbley’s parents were called to the school to discuss their son’s behavior the morning of the shooting.

Investigators also found a recording made the night before the shooting in which Crumbley talks about killing classmates.

Assistant prosecutor Marc Keast said Crumbley "deliberately brought the handgun that day with the intent to murder as many students as he could."

 

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