Police in Michigan arrested the parents of the accused Michigan school shooter early Saturday morning, several local media outlets reported.
Jennifer and James Crumbley were arrested early Saturday in Detroit, WXYZ reported. A search went on for hours after their vehicle was discovered, Fox2 Detroit reported.
Their son, Ethan, is charged with killing four students and wounding seven other people at Oxford High School on Tuesday.
The parents were charged earlier Friday with four counts of involuntary manslaughter. They were listed as fugitives after authorities were unable to locate them.
An exhaustive search was undertaken, and U.S. Marshals offered a $10,000 reward for each of them.
US Marshals announce reward, release wanted posters for James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of the accused Oxford HS (Michigan) shooter pic.twitter.com/CbtWwdTHuj
— U.S. Marshals (@USMarshalsHQ) December 4, 2021
Cops finally collared the Crumbleys early Saturday in Detroit, reports said.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard had said on CNN that the Crumbley parents were missing. Michigan law enforcement issued a statewide Be On the Lookout (BOLO) alert for Jennifer and James, describing the couple and their vehicle.
The Crumbleys withdrew $4,000 from an ATM in Rochester Hills, Mich., on Friday, CNN reported, citing a law-enforcement official.
© Provided by New York Daily News Jennifer and James Crumbley , the parents of Ethan Crumbley, the 15-year-old boy accused of murdering four of his classmates at a Michigan high school.
Jennifer and James Crumbley , the parents of Ethan Crumbley, the 15-year-old boy accused of murdering four of his classmates at a Michigan high school.
Video: Authorities: Student kills 3, wounds 8 at Michigan school (Associated Press)
UP NEXT
“If they think they are going to get away, they are not,” Bouchard said on CNN
Ethan Crumbley fatally shot four of his classmates Tuesday at Oxford High School, located in a Detroit suburb, authorities said. He also injured seven more people in the shooting, and was arrested at the scene with the murder weapon in his hands, police said.
© Provided by New York Daily News This booking photo released by the Oakland County, Mich., Sheriff’s Office shows Ethan Crumbley, 15, who is charged as an adult with murder and terrorism for a shooting that killed four fellow students and injured more at Oxford High School in Oxford, Mich.
This booking photo released by the Oakland County, Mich., Sheriff’s Office shows Ethan Crumbley, 15, who is charged as an adult with murder and terrorism for a shooting that killed four fellow students and injured more at Oxford High School in Oxford, Mich.
Justin Shilling, 17, Tate Myre, 16, Hana St. Juliana, 14, and Madisyn Baldwin, 17, were the victims.
According to investigators, the firearm was a gift to Ethan from his parents on Black Friday.
Accused shooter’s praised President Trump for stance on gun rights in 2016 blog post
Police and school officials also said Jennifer and James ignored warning signs that Ethan would shoot up the high school.
On Monday, three days after Ethan received the handgun, a teacher saw him searching for ammunition while on his phone at school, according to police. The school called the Crumbley household and told them about it.
According to police, Jennifer responded by texting Ethan, “LOL. I’m not mad at you. You have to learn not to get caught.”
Ethan returned to school Tuesday, when a teacher noticed a disturbing sheet of paper on Ethan’s desk, according to prosecutors. They said the paper contained: a gun, a pool of blood, a person who appeared to be shot, the words “Blood everywhere” above a bullet, a laughing emoji and three short phrases: “The thoughts won’t stop. Help me,” “My life is useless” and “The world is dead.”
School officials quickly called a meeting with Ethan and his parents. According to prosecutors, Jennifer and James were dismissive of concerns at that meeting, even though they were asked to get Ethan counseling within 48 hours. They reportedly insisted that he be allowed to go back to class.
Three hours later, Ethan pulled the gun and began shooting classmates. Police said the shooting was methodical.
After the first reports of a school shooting spread, Jennifer texted her son, “Ethan don’t do it,” according to police. But it was too late. James Crumbley reported the weapon missing 15 minutes later, having left it in an unlocked drawer.