Parents walk with their children from Meijer’s parking lot, where many students gathered after an ongoing shooting situation at Oxford High School in Oxford, Michigan, November 30, 2021.
Eric seal | USA Today Network | via Reuters
James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of the teenager accused of killing four students in a shooting at a Michigan high school this week, pleaded not guilty on Saturday to involuntary manslaughter.
According to the AP news agency, Judge Julie Nicholson ordered the parents $1 million. Nicholson also added other requirements, such as GPS monitoring, that he believes pose a risk to flight.
Prosecutors charged the Crumbleys with involuntary manslaughter on Friday. Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said the couple engaged in “serious” behaviors that led to the tragedy. That included buying a gun on Black Friday and not intervening when their son, Ethan Crumbley, presented related behavior.
Crumbley, 15, opened fire at Oxford High School on Tuesday, killing four students. He was charged with four counts of first-degree murder, one count of terrorism causing death, seven counts of assault with intent to kill, and 12 counts of possession of a firearm while committing a felony.
Under Michigan law, parents can be charged with involuntary manslaughter if authorities believe someone contributed to a situation where injury or death is more likely.
The plea came just hours after the parents arrested in a commercial building in Detroit, Detroit Police Chief, James E. White, said at a news conference where they appear to be hiding.
