PONTIAC, Michigan – During a trial on Tuesday, a school official in Michigan told jurors that he did not have enough cause to search the backpack of a teenager before the boy fatally shot four fellow students, despite concerns about the violent drawing the teen had made on a math assignment. Nick Ejak, a disciplinary official at Oxford High School, expressed that he was worried about Ethan Crumbley’s mental health but did not view him as a threat to others on the day of the tragic incident in November 2021.
This testimony comes in the wake of Jennifer Crumbley, 45, being charged with involuntary manslaughter. Prosecutors argue that she and her husband were grossly negligent and could have prevented the four deaths if they had addressed their son’s mental health. They are also accused of making a gun accessible at home. Ejak’s testimony emphasized the meeting that occurred on the day of the shooting, during which he, the parents, the boy, and a counselor discussed the drawing that was found by a teacher. The drawing depicted a gun and a bullet, along with lines that read “The thoughts won’t stop. Help me. The world is dead. My life is useless.”
Ejak also noted that the parents did not disclose that James Crumbley had purchased a gun for Ethan just four days prior, and failed to mention the teen’s hallucinations. He expressed concern that the parents did not immediately take their son home after the meeting, as his primary focus was ensuring that the teen received the help he needed.
James Crumbley, 47, is set to stand trial in March. The couple are the first parents in the U.S. to be charged in a mass school shooting committed by their child. The decision has sparked national debate and raised questions about parental responsibility and gun accessibility. Ethan, now 17, is serving a life sentence for the tragic events at Oxford High School.
The case raises important considerations regarding school safety and mental health support for students, shedding light on the potential consequences of overlooking warning signs. The trial continues to unfold as the community seeks answers and accountability in the aftermath of the devastating incident.