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Alleged Michigan School Shooter Made Gun Video, Had Parents Called In to School

The 15-year-old charged with killing four of his classmates met with the school earlier that day with his parents to discuss his concerning behavior.
Students hug at outside Oxford High School in Oxford, Mich., Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.

The same day a 15-year-old allegedly shot four of his classmates dead at a high school in Michigan, he and his parents had been summoned to Oxford High School by school officials over concerns about his behavior. 

Ethan Crumbley, who has since been charged as an adult with murder, attempted murder, and terrorism causing death, used a 9mm Sig Sauer handgun belonging to his father and shot 10 students and one teacher during his rampage at the school on Tuesday, according to authorities.

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Speaking with reporters Wednesday afternoon, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said that the teen had exhibited concerning behavior, which led teachers to call his parents in to discuss it. While Bouchard didn’t divulge many specifics about the teen’s alleged behavior, the meeting itself is likely to raise more questions about what the school or his parents knew, and what they could have done to prevent Tuesday’s massacre. 

The school has already come under some scrutiny for recent statements it made that appeared to downplay possible security concerns as “rumors” stemming from social media posts that “exacerbated the overall concern.” One such statement was made following an incident in which someone left the head of a deer on school property in early November, and used red acrylic paint to put graffiti on a school building. 

Also on Wednesday, Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald said her office was confident that the shooting at Oxford High School was “absolutely premeditated,” citing a “mountain of digital evidence,” including from social media. 

Several accounts linked to the alleged shooter, that were reviewed by VICE News before their removal, contained multiple references to firearms. One video posted to one of those accounts Monday evening showed him pointing a gun at the camera and laughing. 

The teen used a gun his father had purchased on Black Friday (Nov. 26), and he fired 15-20 shots in total, police said. McDonald said Wednesday that his parents could potentially also face charges in the shooting.