Crime: Oxford Police, Prosecutor Face Criticism for Allowing School Shooter's Parents To Get Away

The Oakland County prosecutor and local law enforcement have faced criticism after the parents of the Oxford High School shooter left town following the shooting.

© Scott Olson/Getty Oakland County prosecuting attorney Karen McDonald can be seen during a press conference after charges were filed against the parents of Ethan Crumbley.

James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley, were reportedly labeled as "fugitives" by county officials after they left Oxford. Police had been attempting to arrest the pair on involuntary manslaughter charges after Ethan allegedly killed four students during a mass shooting.

Ethan Crumbley's Parents 'Resisted the Idea' of Pulling Him From School Before Shooting

The Oakland County Prosecutor said drawings found on Crumbley's desk contained a semi-automatic handgun pointing at the words "the thoughts won't stop help me."During a press conference on Friday, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald explained that on the morning of the shooting, which occurred on Tuesday, the alleged shooter, Ethan Crumbley, and his parents were summoned to a meeting with a school counselor. The meeting was prompted by a teacher who discovered several drawings on Crumbley's desk that alarmed her "to the point that she took a picture of it on her cell phone.

Officials issued a fugitive warrant for the pair, but their lawyer insisted that they weren't on the run, and had always planned on turning themselves in. The lawyer added that he had been in contact with the Oakland County prosecutor in order to 'coordinate' an arrest, but this had reportedly not yet happened.

The couple had allegedly left Oxford during the night out of safety concerns, their attorney added, but it is not clear if their lawyer knew where the pair went.

As the hours went on and no sign of the parents could be found, a massive law enforcement response, including the FBI, local sheriffs, and U.S. Marshals, were all aiding in the search for the missing couple.

Across social media and news outlets, criticism was lobbed at the prosecutor's office as well as the law enforcement manhunt. Many questioned how the parents of a suspected school shooter could evade detection for so long.

Ohio Student Arrested 3 Days After Mich. Shooting, 'Kill List' of Other Students Reported

"We want to praise the students who spoke up and let school administration know about the situation," a junior high school principal said.In a letter to families of students, the principal of Ohio's Milford Junior High School wrote that a student "was reported to have compiled a list of names of some fellow students and that this list was referred to as a 'kill list.

Now the parents of the school shooting terrorist are "missing"..

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Cops hunt for parents of Oxford shooting suspect as lawyer insists they haven’t fled https://t.co/PYI0PVoE89

— Tariq Nasheed ???????? (@tariqnasheed) December 3, 2021

NBC News National Security Contributor Frank Figliuzzi asked if the investigation could "get anymore screwed up" and questioned why charges against the parents were announced before they were in custody.

Parents on the run. Can this get anymore screwed up? DA announced charges before custody?? Oxford High shooting: Police search for parents of Michigan high school shooter after they are charged with crimes tied to deadly rampage, prosecutor says - CNN https://t.co/b1BZ5cKFrJ

— Frank Figliuzzi (@FrankFigliuzzi1) December 3, 2021

This is a breaking news story and will be updated with additional information.

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• Ohio Student Arrested 3 Days After Mich. Shooting, 'Kill List' of Other Students Reported
• Parents of Alleged Oxford School Shooter Go Missing After New Charges: Sheriff
• Teen Admits He Made Threat Against School to Get Day Off After Oxford Shooting: Police

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