The parents of the 15-year-old who this week shot and killed several of his companions in Michigan (USA) they have been detained. This was reported this Saturday by the Detroit Police, which has arrested the shooter’s parents accused of involuntary manslaughter.
This same Friday charges were brought against James and Jennifer Crumbley, parents of Ethan Crumbley, for buy the gun for your son and ignore the warning signs until the day of the shooting. After the charges against the couple were announced, the authorities began their search, until they have finally been found and arrested, according to a police spokesman.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the father bought, with his son present, the semiautomatic firearm with which days later killed four teenagers and injured seven other people. The boy uploaded photos of the weapon to his social networks with the message “I just got my new beauty today”, while his mother in turn published that her son was “trying his new Christmas gift.”
In addition, according to the prosecutor, Ethan’s teachers advised the mother that her son I had been looking in class for information on ammunition on your mobile phone. She did not respond to them, but sent the following message to her son: “LOL [‘laughing out loud’, ‘riéndome a carcajadas’ en español]I’m not mad at you You have to learn not to get caught. “
On the same morning of the shooting, a member of the teaching staff discovered a drawing of ethan in which he had represented a pistol, a bullet and a bleeding figure, with the words “blood everywhere” and “thoughts don’t stop, help me”. However, despite the institute calling his parents and showing them the disturbing drawing, the Crumbleys did not take their son home, search his backpack, or ask about the weapon, according to the charges filed.
According to the Public Ministry, the parents kept the gun in their bedroom without keeping it locked and, when news emerged that there was a shooting at the institute, Jennifer sent a text message to her son saying: “Ethan, don’t do it”. The father then called 911 to report that his gun was missing and that he believed his son was the author.
According to Reuters, this is the first case in which charges are brought against parents of a teenage shooter in a school. Although gun ownership laws in some states hold gun owners liable if they fail to protect them around children, this is not the case in Michigan, so the prosecution will have to show that the Crumbleys were grossly negligent or reckless.
Four counts of involuntary manslaughter are charged each and, if found guilty, could face a sentence of up to 15 years in prison.
Two boys aged 16 and 17 and two girls aged 14 and 17 were killed in the shooting, while seven other people were injured. As for Ethan Crumbley, will be judged as an adult and he is charged with one count of terrorism, four of first degree murder, seven of assault with attempted murder and 12 for possession of a firearm. The teenager has pleaded not guilty and faces a possible life sentence.
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
