PONTIAC, Michigan – A school official in Michigan expressed concerns over the parents of a teenage mass shooter who did not immediately take their son home after being called to school over troubling drawings that he had made. Ethan Crumbley, 17, fatally shot and killed four of his high school classmates on November 30, 2021. His parents, Jennifer and James Crumbley, have been charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter each in the deaths of the shooting victims.
Nick Ejak, who was responsible for discipline at Oxford High School, testified that he found it strange that the couple declined to take their son home after being called to the school to discuss a disturbing drawing he had made. The drawing depicted a gun, a bullet, and contained phrases such as ‘blood everywhere’, ‘the thoughts won’t stop help me’, and ‘my life is useless’.
The trial revealed that Ethan’s parents had been shown the disturbing drawings just hours before he carried out the deadly shooting. According to newly released police station interviews, the parents expressed regret over not taking their son home, with Jennifer lamenting, ‘I really wish we would have taken him home.’
The case against the couple includes allegations that they neglected their son’s needs and made a gun accessible at home. This marks the first time parents have been charged in a mass school shooting in the U.S. It has been revealed that the Crumbleys purchased a new gun for Ethan just days before the shooting, although they claim that target practice is a family pastime and that James had been teaching his son gun safety.
The trial has also brought to light additional evidence, including texts sent by Ethan expressing his feelings of fear and paranoia, as well as disturbing behavior witnessed by school employees. Despite these warnings, Ethan was allowed to return to class after the meeting with his parents. A teacher had also reported seeing him researching bullets and watching a video of a person gunning people down.
Over the course of the trial, it has become increasingly evident that multiple warning signs were overlooked, leading to the tragic events of November 30, 2021. The proceedings are shedding light on the systemic failures and missed opportunities to intervene before the deadly shooting occurred, prompting a reevaluation of school safety protocols and mental health support systems.