The parents of the suspect in the Michigan high-school shooting have been charged with involuntary manslaughter

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The parents of the suspect in the Michigan high-school shooting have been charged with involuntary manslaughter
Police are shown in the parking lot of a Meijer store where Oxford High School students were being reunited with parents in Oxford, Mich., Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021.AP Photo/Paul Sancya
  • The parents of the Oxford High School shooting suspect were charged with involuntary manslaughter.
  • Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald announced the charges on Friday.
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The parents of the suspect in the shooting at a Michigan high school have been charged with involuntary manslaughter, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald announced on Friday.

McDonald said her office had filed four counts of involuntary manslaughter against Jennifer and James Crumbley.

Authorities have identified the couple's 15-year-old son as the sole suspect in the shooting at Oxford High School on Tuesday that killed four students and injured seven other people.

McDonald alleged that Jennifer texted her son "Ethan, don't do it" at 1:22 p.m. on Tuesday. McDonald said James called 911 at 1:37 p.m. after learning his gun was missing, believing his son had taken it.

Law-enforcement officials had previously said that on Black Friday, four days before the shooting, James purchased the 9mm Sig Sauer SP 2022 pistol that was used in the shooting.

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McDonald said on Friday that the gun was a Christmas present from the parents to their son.

She also said an investigation found that the gun had been stored, unlocked, in a drawer in the couple's bedroom.

"These charges are intended to hold the individuals who contributed to this tragedy accountable and also send a message," McDonald said. "Gun owners have a responsibility. When they fail to uphold that responsibility, there are serious and criminal consequences."

Prosecutors have charged the son with four counts of first-degree murder — indicating that they believe the victims were targeted — and a terrorism-related charge.

McDonald has said that because of the serious nature of the case, the 15-year-old will be charged as an adult.

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Police on Friday afternoon said multiple law enforcement agencies on Friday afternoon were looking for the Crumbleys after the couple's attorney notified the police that she hadn't been able to reach them.

They were set to be arraigned this afternoon, and their attorney had agreed to produce them for arrest if they were to be charged, police said.

But the Crumbleys' lawyers told Insider that the couple had left the area on the night of the shooting for their own safety, and would return to the area for the arraignment.

"The Crumbleys left town on the night of the tragic shooting for their own safety," Shannon Smith and Mariell Lehman told Insider. "They are returning to the area to be arraigned."

The lawyers added: "They are not fleeing from law enforcement despite recent comments in media reports."

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