Mich. school officials had authority to search suspect’s backpack prior to shooting, but failed to do so

Amber CoakleyDecember 7, 2021

Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald leaves after addressing the media in her office, Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, in Pontiac, Mich. McDonald filed involuntary manslaughter charges against Jennifer and James Crumbley, the parents of 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley, who is accused of killing four students at a Michigan high school. McDonald says the gun used in the shootings at Oxford High School was purchased by James Crumbley a week ago and given to the boy. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 12:39 PM PT – Tuesday, December 7, 2021

More information has been released about the Michigan high school’s awareness of the suspect’s gun access in the deadly shooting that left four students dead and several others injured.

In an interview Monday, Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald confirmed Oxford High School officials had legal grounds to search Ethan Crumbley’s backpack and locker prior to the shooting, but chose not to. However, she stressed that by no means should an active shooter incident result in the criminal prosecution against parents, but said the horrific facts of this case warrant accountability.

“I’m certainly not suggesting that parents should be criminally prosecuted for any bad act of a child,” she stated. “But in this case, you can’t possibly look at their actions and say that they didn’t have reason to believe that there was real concern about a violent act.”

Additionally, school officials reportedly contacted the suspects parents the day before the shooting because he was searching online for ammunition during school hours and a second time the day of the shooting when a meeting was held with his parents over a disturbing drawing.

Oakland Co, MI prosecutor Karen McDonald explains why she charged the parents in the recent school shooting: “I am by no means saying than an active shooter situation should always result in criminal prosecutions against parents, but the facts of this case are so egregious.” pic.twitter.com/FPGDT0ar6k

— Adam Allington (@aallington) December 3, 2021

Crumbley’s parents are being charged with four-counts of involuntary manslaughter and have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Meanwhile, authorities executed a search warrant at the home of Detroit-based artist Andrzej Sikora who allegedly helped James and Jennifer Crumbley hide before they were apprehended. The 65-year-olds lawyer confirmed he is fully cooperating and has not been charged with any crime.