Attack on school in Michigan: Parents of the shooter plead innocent

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Wreaths with black bows at Oxford High School

Photo: Paul Sancya / dpa

The parents of the 15-year-old shooter were jailed after the gun attack that left four dead at a school in the US state of Michigan.

According to all that is known, the two were arrested while on the run.

The public prosecutor's office accuses them of negligent homicide in four cases.

For each of these cases, they face up to 15 years imprisonment.

The father and his son bought the weapon four days before the attack.

The mother is said to have described the semi-automatic pistol on online platforms as a “Christmas present” for her “baby” and drove to a shooting range with her son.

At a hearing, the parents pleaded not guilty.

Judge Julie Nicholson set them on bail of $ 500,000 each.

She justified this with the "very, very serious" allegations and a possible risk of escape.

Unusual move by law enforcement agencies

The 15-year-old son opened fire on Tuesday at his school in the small town of Oxford, north of Detroit.

He killed four classmates between the ages of 14 and 17 and injured seven other people.

After the crime, he was arrested without resistance and was accused of, among other things, quadruple murder and terrorism.

According to adult criminal law, the teenager should be tried.

He faces life imprisonment.

The allegation against his parents James and Jennifer Crumbley is an unusual move by US law enforcement agencies.

The aim of this practice was "to hold accountable those who contributed to this tragedy and to send a message to gun owners that they have a responsibility," said District Attorney Karen McDonald.

According to the police, the 15-year-old had recorded a video on his cell phone the evening before the crime, in which he announced the attack for the next day.

On the day of the crime, the parents were summoned for an interview by the school administration because drawings depicting violent fantasies had been discovered on the son's desk.

“The thoughts don't stop.

Help me, ”read next to a picture of a pistol.

In addition, the 15-year-old had drawn a cartridge and a corpse, along with the message: "My life is useless."

"You have to learn not to get caught"

The parents refused to bring their son home.

According to prosecutors, they did not check whether the boy had the gun with him or inform the school about it.

The teenager then returned to class.

He later took out the pistol he had hidden in his backpack in the school toilet and opened fire.

The day before the crime, a teacher caught the 15-year-old looking for ammunition on his smartphone.

His mother sent him the text message that day, according to the prosecutor: “LOL.

I am not angry with you.

You have to learn not to get caught. "

The Crumbleys apparently fled after their son's crime.

According to CNN, they withdrew $ 4,000 on Friday and turned off their cell phones.

They were arrested on Friday evening in an industrial building in Detroit.

Her lawyers said the parents had left town "for their own safety" and wanted to face the authorities.

They are "devastated like everyone else".

jme / AFP