The mother of a 15-year-old Michigan boy who allegedly killed four students at his high school last year texted a friend about her son’s demeanor hours before the deadly shooting, court testimony on Tuesday revealed.
Ethan Crumbley’s parents, Jennifer and James Crumbley, 43 and 45 are charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the November 30 shooting at Oxford High School that also left seven people injured. Jennifer Crumbley’s friend, Kira Pennock, 25, testified during Tuesday’s preliminary hearing about the texts Jennifer Crumbley sent her regarding a meeting she had with the school counselor hours before the shooting, according to The Detroit News.
In the alleged texts, Jennifer Crumbley said she “s**t day” after the conference and included a photo of a disturbing drawing her 15-year-old son drew on a math assignment. Pennock, who owns a horse farm that houses two of the Crumbley’s horses, testified that the exchange “alarmed her.”
“I thought that was not normal,” she also said.
Hours after the shooting, Jennifer Crumbley texted Pennock, “My son ruined so many lives today.”
Fox News reported that during that fateful meeting, Ethan Crumbley convinced school officials that his concerning drawings were from a video game. The teen’s parents also refused to take him home, according to prosecutors.
On the morning of the shooting, Jennifer Crumbley allegedly also texted Pennock that her son was having a “hard time” following the death of their dog and his friend going to a treatment facility. The mother went on to say that she may bring him with her to the horse farm later that day because he “can’t be left alone,” Fox News reported.
The gun Ethan Crumbley allegedly used to carry out last year’s shooting was reportedly purchased by his father on Black Friday. Prosecutors said the weapon “seems to have been just freely available” to the teen.
Ethan Crumbley is charged with terrorism, first-degree murder, assault with intent to murder, and gun violations. He remains jailed without bond.
Jennifer and James Crumbley’s preliminary hearing will reconvene on February 24.
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[Featured image: Jennifer, Ethan, and James Crumbley/Oakland County jail]
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