Michigan school officials had grounds to search shooting suspect’s backpack but failed – and could face charges
School officials had legal grounds to search the backpack and locker of Ethan Crumbley, the 15-year-old student accused of opening fire at his suburban Michigan high school, but apparently failed to do so.
Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald told CNN staff members could face charges following last Tuesday’s shooting.
‘We haven’t ruled out charging anyone,’ McDonald said on Monday.
Officials at Oxford High School could have searched Crumbley’s backpack and locker in the hours before the shooting, following a meeting with his parents over his concerning behavior, the prosecutor said. However, the suspected shooter’s belongings went unchecked as his parents resisted the idea of taking him out of school early for the day.
‘We don’t know exactly if that weapon was in his bag, where it was, we just know it was in the school and he had access to it,’ McDonald said.
Crumbley had been flagged by school officials twice for concerning behavior. The first time was the day before the shooting, and the second was just hours before.
The day before the shooting, Crumbley was caught by a teacher searching for ammunition on his cellphone. He told officials he was doing so because shooting sports were a family hobby.
The next day, a different teacher noticed a disturbing note Crumbley left on his desk that featured a drawing of a semiautomatic handgun, a person with bullet wounds, a laughing emoji and several concerning phrases, including: ‘The thoughts won’t stop. Help me’, and ‘Blood everywhere’.
McDonald stopped short of placing blame on the school for not searching Crumbley’s belongings following the two concerning incidents, and instead blamed his parents.
‘In this case you can’t possibly look at their actions and say that they didn’t have reason to believe there was a real concern about a violent act,’ McDonald said.
‘All of this could have been prevented if he had not had access (to the gun) or if just one of those parents had said “I’m concerned about what I’m seeing right now and I also want you to know, we just bought him a gun for Christmas”, and that didn’t happen.’
Crumbley has been charged as an adult with two dozen crimes, including murder, attempted murder and terrorism, for the shooting.
McDonald also said there was evidence beyond the disturbing details that have already been revealed that will be used in prosecuting Crumbley and his parents in the shooting that left four high school students dead and seven others injured.
Following a day-long manhunt Friday, his parents James and Jennifer Crumbley were arrested Saturday. They both pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter charges in the deaths of four teenagers allegedly killed by their son.
Prosecutors alleged the parents provided unrestricted access to the gun their son is accused of using.
Attorneys for the parents maintain they intended to turn themselves in to authorities before their arrest inside an industrial building in nearby Detroit.
‘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,’ their attorneys said.
Disturbing new details continue to be released regarding the latest mass shooting to shake America, as Oxford Community Schools Superintendent Time Throne said an independent third party would be investigating the school’s response.
According to Throne, the suspect starting firing his gun ‘during passing time between classes when hundreds of students were in the hallway transitioning from one classroom to the other’.
It’s unclear if the gun was in the suspect’s backpack during the earlier disciplinary meeting held with his parents.
An initial review of videos of the shooting showed ‘staff and students’ response to the shooter was efficient, exemplary and definitely prevented further deaths and injuries, Throne said.
Students and staff had already entered classrooms, locked doors, created makeshift barricades and locked down before the shooter was able to enter the main hallway, the superintendent said.
A judge entered a not guilty plea for Crumbley on Wednesday. His next court appearance is scheduled for December 13.
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