Michigan shooting suspect parents plead not guilty to involuntary manslaughter charges: LIVE UPDATES
Jennifer and James Crumbley, the parents of the Michigan high school shooting suspect Ethan Crumbley, made their first court appearance in an Oakland County court in Michigan on Saturday morning.
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A former Assistant United States Attorney told Fox News that the charges brought against Ethan Crumbley's parents are "absolutely warranted" and that each one could each face 10-15 years in prison if convicted.
Former U.S. attorney Neama Rahmani said that while it's "very rare" for prosecutors to charge the parents of a suspect in a school shooting, the prosecution has a strong case.
"What's more dangerous than buying a gun for your kid and knowing that, you know, he's making, you know, drawing these violent pictures and school officials are concerned and doing nothing about it. In my book, that's certainly creating a situation where the risk of death was very high," Rahmani said.
James and Jennifer Crumbley both pleaded not guilty to four counts of involuntary manslaughter after Ethan Crumbley, their son, was accused of killing four students at Oxford High school earlier this week during a school shooting.
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Michigan will be playing in the Big Ten Conference Championship with heavy hearts on Saturday.
The Wolverines will honor the victims of the Oxford High School shooting wearing a special patch when the team plays Iowa for the conference title – and likely the right to play in the College Football Playoff later in the season.
Michigan announced the special patch on Thursday.
"Our uniforms will feature a special logo during Saturday’s Big Ten Championship Game," the school said.
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Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said in a press conference on Saturday that the area is seeing a "huge spike" in threats since the Oxford High School shooting. He has a message for the people making those threats: "We will find you, We will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law."
"I mean, we're inundated with threats right now. We have threats against the candlelight vigil last night. We have threats against memorials. We have threats against individual 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," Bouchard said.
"I'll put a punctuation on this again. If you make a threat, we're going to investigate it, even if it's not credible, and even if you don't plan to carry it out and we find you, and we will find you, we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. And one of the possible penalties is up to 20 years, so it's not funny. It's not a way to get out of school. It's a crime. And you're hurting an already struggling community," he added.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said in a press conference on Saturday that he does not believe that the Crumbley parents were planning on surrendering to police officers on Friday night.
"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," Bouchard said.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said in a press conference on Saturday that all three of the Crumbleys are under suicide watch "out of an abundance of caution."
"There was no indication that any of them were suicidal, but out of an abundance of caution, our amazing corrections team is doing suicide watches on all three of them. So, they are in custody and again in isolation," Bouchard said.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said in a press conference on Saturday that additional charges could be filed after it was revealed an individual was helping the Crumbleys hide on Friday night.
"We're gathering that information, and we're going to have the totality of that done fairly soon and present that to our prosecutor for potential charges for either aiding and abetting or obstruction of justice. That will be a determination by our prosecutor at some point in the near future," Bouchard said.
Attorneys Mariell Lehman and Shannon Smith, representing the parents of Michigan high school shooting suspect Ethan Crumbley, said Saturday the gun that the 15 year old allegedly used was "locked" before Tuesday's tragedy.
The attorneys defending James and Jennifer Crumbley also accused Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald of creating a media "spectacle" on Friday after authorities issued a "be on the lookout" (BOLO) alert for the pair, who did not show up to an arraignment apparently scheduled for Friday.
McDonald charged them with four counts of involuntary manslaughter each during a Friday press conference.
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Oakland County, Michigan, prosecutor Karen McDonald on Saturday highlighted text messages and a social media post from James and Jennifer Crumbley to their son, suspected Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley, during their arraignment hearing.
McDonald said during the hearing that the "likelihood of conviction is strong" for the parents, who pleaded not guilty Saturday to four counts each of involuntary manslaughter after their son was accused of shooting and killing four students and injuring seven others on Tuesday.
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Crumbley attorney Mariell Lehman on Saturday accused Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald of creating a media "spectacle" on Friday.
"Unlike the prosecution, we weren't attempting to make this a media ... spectacle. This case is absolutely the saddest, most tragic, worst case imaginable. There is absolutely no doubt. But our clients were absolutely going to turn themselves in. It was just a matter of logistics, and all the prosecution had to do was communicate with me about it."
Lehman said McDonald did not inform her or attorney Shannon Smith that she would be charging their clients on Friday.
McDonald shot back, saying the Crumbleys "didn't need law enforcement permission to go to the court and turn themselves in."
"The whole country knew that these charges were coming. And lastly, to suggest that this anyone is somehow using this incident to create press — there's a lot of attention here because four children were murdered and seven others were injured, and that that is on the mind of every single person in this country."
James and Jennifer Crumbley are being held on $500,000 bond each, an Oakland County district judge ruled Saturday during their arraignment hearing, citing a concern about a "flight risk."
Mariell Lehman, attorney for James and Jennifer Crumbley, on Saturday said the gun used in the Oxford High School shooting earlier this week was "locked" during the Crumbleys' arraignment hearing in an Oakland County court.
"That gun was actually locked, so when the prosecution is stating that this child had free access to a gun, that is...absolutely not true," Lehman said.
James Crumbley purchased the weapon recovered following the shooting – a 9mm Sig Sauer pistol – at a local firearms store on Black Friday, Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald said earlier this week.
Crumbley arraignment (52nd District Court, Oakland County)
Jennifer Crumbley and James Crumbley on Saturday each pleaded not guilty to four counts of involuntary manslaughter.
Jennifer Crumbley appeared to start crying as the judge read charges aloud.
The parents were charged after their son, Ethan Crumbley, was accused of shooting and killing four students and injuring seven others at Oxford High School in Michigan earlier this week.
McDonald said James Crumbley purchased the weapon recovered following the shooting – a 9mm Sig Sauer pistol – at a local firearms store on Black Friday, per an employee.
Shannon Smith and Mariell Lehman on Saturday morning issued the following statement ahead of their clients' arraignment:
"We understand that our clients were apprehended last night although we fully intended to turn them in first thing this morning for arraignment, contrary to the misinformation that has been rampant in the media.
Unfortunately, this case presents the most unimaginable tragedy for every single person involved, including every member of the community. While it’s human nature to want to find someone to blame or something to point to or something that gives us answers, the charges in this case are intended to make an example and send a message. The prosecution has very much cherry- picked and slanted specific facts to further their narrative to do that.
We intend to fight this case in the courtroom and not in the court of public opinion. We know that in the end the entire story and truth will prevail."
James and Jennifer Crumbley are scheduled to be arraigned in an Oakland County District Court in Michigan at 9:30 a.m.
Local authorities arrested the couple early Saturday morning after they skipped their Friday arraignment.
Detroit Police Department Chief James White describes the arrest of James and Jennifer Crumbley early Saturday morning.
"We're tired of this. This is awful," he said of the Oxford High School shooting and its aftermath.
He added that police found the Crumbleys in a commerical building in Detroit.
White said investigators are interviewing a third person who may have assisted the couple in entering the building to hide.
Fox News/Fox 2/Oakland County Jail
The parents of Michigan school shooting suspect Ethan Crumbley were taken into custody in Saturday's predawn hours after an extensive manhunt for the couple, who had failed to appear for their arraignment Friday.
James and Jennifer Crumbley face involuntary manslaughter charges in connection to Tuesday's tragedy at Oxford High School for refusing to take their son out of school after staff said he exhibited warning signs of violence and needed counseling, according to authorities.
Ethan Crumbley, 15, was arrested after he allegedly opened fire at the school, killing four students and wounding seven other people.
Following an hours-long search in Michigan on Friday that included U.S. Marshals' offers of $10,000 rewards each for their capture, law enforcement officers found the parents in Detroit, where they were reportedly hiding in an art studio after leaving their car in the building's parking lot.
A business owner called 911 after seeing the suspects’ car and noticing a woman running away from it. Images of the car and the couple had been posted in the media.
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The Michigan sheriff at the center of the investigation into Tuesday’s deadly Oxford High School shooting said Friday night he was blindsided earlier in the day when the county prosecutor held a news conference announcing charges against James and Jennifer Crumbley, parents of the teenage suspect in the case.
"I’ve been sheriff for 21 years," Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard told "NewsNation Now," "and I’ve never had anyone have a press conference announcing charges before we had the opportunity to have somebody in custody."
Also tearing into Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald were an Oakland County undersheriff and two lawyers representing the Crumbleys, according to a report.
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Credit: Michael Ruiz, Fox News
Detroit Police Chief James White thanked the department’s officers, other law enforcement agencies and the community for helping find James and Jennifer Crumbley hiding out in a building amid an overnight manhunt.
“I could not be prouder,” he said in a predawn press conference Saturday near the Detroit commercial building where the Crumbleys were found. A business owner called 911 after seeing the suspects’ vehicle in his parking lot Friday night, helping law enforcement zero in their search.
“Tonight, again, our community came through for us,” he said.
The couple was unarmed and were taken into custody without incident, the chief said. They are likely to face further charges.
“This isn’t indicative of turning yourself in, hiding in a warehouse,” White told reporters of the couple who skipped out on their arraignment on involuntary manslaughter charges Friday afternoon.
A third person who White said may have assisted the couple in getting into the building to hide is also being looked at by investigators. The Crumbleys didn’t break into the building, they were let inside by that person, the chief told reporters.
“We’re tired of this,” he added of school and other mass shootings, telling reporters the manhunt “takes as much manpower as it takes” to give the families of the victims “the closure that they need.”
Custody has been transferred to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.
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Credit: Michael Ruiz, Fox News
James and Jennifer Crumbley have been taken into custody inside a building near where their abandoned SUV was found.
State police and SWAT surrounded the area of the 1100 block of Bellevue in Detroit where the vehicle was found late Friday in a parking lot. The Crumbleys were discovered after a short search of the area.
Police will be holding a press conference at 3 a.m. ET
A business owner called 911 after he saw the vehicle in his parking lot and noticed a woman who ran away from it when he made the call, Oakland County Undersheriff Mike McCabe told Fox News in an email.
The Crumbleys will be booked into the Oakland County Jail.
"Kudos to the Detroit Police Department for this great response and work," McCabe told Fox News. "We wish to thank all of the agencies that assisted on scene, including Border Patrol, [Michigan State Police], U.S. Marshals and our own Fugitive Team."
They may be arraigned at 9 a.m., he added.
A vigil for the Michigan shooting victims Friday night briefly descended into chaos after an attendee passed out, causing others to run, believing it could be related to a security incident, FOX 2 in Detroit reported.
"Take a deep breath everyone," Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter, who had been speaking at the vigil, said, as people began to push each other to get out of the way. "Someone passed out. We are okay. There is no harm - there is no violence happening."
There were no reported injuries.
People gather for a candle light vigil for the victims of the Oxford High School shooting in downtown in Oxford, Michigan on December 3, 2021. - The parents of a 15-year-old boy who shot dead four students at a high school in the US state of Michigan with a gun bought for him by his father just days earlier were charged with involuntary manslaughter. (Photo by JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images)
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The mother of suspected Michigan high school shooter Ethan Crumbley texted him "Don't do it" as he unleashed a barrage of gunfire, killing four students and injuring several others, including a teacher, prosecutors said Friday.
The revelation came as authorities charged the teenager's parents – James and Jennifer Crumbley – with four counts each of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the Tuesday shooting at Oxford High School.
The couple remains on the run and a "Be on the Lookout" (BOLO) has been issued. Their lawyers told Fox News they were returning to the area for their arraignment. Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald outlined the reasoning to charge the parents during a Friday news conference where she revealed the chilling moments as gunshots rang out.
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Michael McCabe, the undersheriff for the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, told Fox News that the office spoke with the Crumbley’s attorney on Friday at 4 p.m. to set up a place for the couple to turn themselves in, and have not gotten a response.
“At four o’clock this afternoon, probably four o’clock this afternoon, we talked to one of the attorneys again, and they said, again, they’re going to turn themselves in and we said, OK, have him call us, you call us, where can we meet you? And you know, we’ve heard nothing since then,” McCabe said.
During that call, McCabe said that the attorney revealed they have not been in contact with the Crumbley’s at all on Friday.
“Wherever they are, we’ll meet them. That is correct. We’ve had no response to that,” McCabe said.
Attorneys for the parents of Oxford High School shooting suspect Ethan Crumbley say the two are returning to the Oakland County, Michigan, area to be arraigned after authorities asked the public to be on the lookout Friday afternoon.
"The Crumbleys left town on the night of the tragic shooting for their own safety. They are returning to the area to be arraigned. They are not fleeing from law enforcement despite recent comments in media reports," attorneys Shannon Smith and Mariell Lehman told Fox News.
A statewide "Be on the Lookout" (BOLO) alert was issued for James and Jennifer Crumbley Friday, two police departments first confirmed to FOX 2 Detroit.
After Smith and Lehman told Fox News that James and Jennifer Crumbley are returning to Oakland County to be arraigned, the U.S. Marshals Service tweeted that they are working on the search for the couple in conjunction with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.
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