Oxford, Michigan. Two instructors raised troubling conduct from senior Ethan Crumbley beginning the day before the fatal Michigan high school shooting in which he is accused, prompting two meetings with him, one with his parents only hours before the deaths, according to a sheriff.
Crumbley, 15, was charged as an adult on Wednesday with terrorism, murder, and other charges in connection with a shooting at Oxford High School north of Detroit Tuesday that killed four pupils and injured seven more.
On Monday, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard told Brianna Keilar on CNN's "New Day" that "a teacher in the classroom where he was a student saw and heard something that she believed was concerning."
He said, "And they had a counseling session with school authorities about it, and a phone call was left with the parents."
Then, on Tuesday, "a different teacher in a different classroom saw some behavior that they felt was concerning, and they brought the child down to an office, had a meeting with school officials, called in the parents, and ultimately it was determined that he could go back into class," according to the report.
Crumbley allegedly opened fire outside a school toilet shortly afterward, according to authorities. Prosecutors claimed he proceeded along a corridor at a "methodical pace," firing at kids in halls and classrooms before surrendering in the bloodiest school shooting in the United States since 2018, and the 32nd since August 1.
Bouchard would not say what the teachers' concerns were, but he did say that his department was "never aware of any meeting previous to the incident or that there were any concerns about conduct."
"It will all be part of the inquiry, in terms of what they believed, and why they thought that was the proper approach," Bouchard said when asked why Crumbley was allowed to return to class on Tuesday.
In answer to a query from CNN, he added at a subsequent press conference, "Certainly, in light of where we are now, we would have loved to have been part of that debate and information."
When asked by CNN if such knowledge may have stopped the incident, the sheriff declined to guess.
Following a meeting with Crumbley and his parents, the morning of the shooting, Oxford Community Schools administrator Tim Throne indicated in a video statement on Thursday that no disciplinary action against him was required.
"There has been a lot of discussion concerning the student who was arrested. That he had been summoned to the office and all that sort of thing. There was no need for disciplinary action. At secondary school, there are no disciplinary records. Yes, this student communicated with our front desk. And, indeed, on November 30th, his parents were on campus "Throne expressed his thoughts.
Throne applauded the students and staff for their actions, claiming that some officials gave CPR and that the kids "acted precisely as they had been instructed." He stated he will meet with the parents of the four children who died and that he will respond to all queries tomorrow, but that "this is all the information we can provide you now."
Officials claim that cell phone footage depicts pupils being killed.
Investigators discovered two recordings on Crumbley's cell phone the night before the shootings in which he discussed shooting and murdering kids at the high school, according to sheriff's Lt. Tim Willis at Crumbley's arraignment Wednesday.
Investigators also discovered a notebook in Crumbley's rucksack that documented his "want to shoot up the school, including murdering pupils," according to Willis.
According to Bouchard, the firearm used in the shooting, a 9mm Sig Sauer SP2022 handgun, was acquired by Crumbley's father four days before the incident.
According to a law enforcement source with firsthand knowledge, a photo of the handgun suspected to have been used in the shooting was posted to an Instagram account days before the shooting.
According to the source, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office believes the account belongs to Ethan Crumbley.
"My new beauty arrived today. 9mm SIG SAUER, "The text beneath the photo, which is no longer available online but was extensively circulated on social media, says.
According to a law enforcement source with firsthand knowledge of the event, a photo of the pistol suspected to have been used in the Oxford High School shooting Tuesday was posted to an Instagram account days before the incident.
CNN has sought to contact Crumbley's parents and is looking for their attorney as well as a new lawyer for their son.
When asked if Crumbley's parents knew what their son was writing or filming before the shooting or how he got his hands on the new weapon, Bouchard told CNN on Thursday: "We have no evidence that they were aware that this was the road he was on. However, that is really ongoing research."
At a press conference, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said her office is assessing whether Crumbley's parents should face charges, and she intends to make an announcement by Friday afternoon.
According to McDonald, gun ownership has legal obligations such as properly safeguarding the weapon and keeping ammo separate.
CNN has asked the prosecutor to say whether the evidence was found to support prospective charges, as well as which charges are being explored. The prosecutor has been tight-lipped about the case, citing the ongoing investigation.
On Thursday evening, Bouchard told CNN's Wolf Blitzer that investigators were still looking into that part of the case while emphasizing that neither the boy nor his parents were cooperating with authorities.
"Premeditation is clear both in terms of the digital evidence we've uncovered, and our detectives are going through written writings as well," says Oakland, County, Michigan, Sheriff Michael Bouchard, on the deadly Oxford High School shooting. pic.twitter.com/mKybRNpskQ
— The Situation Room (@CNNSitRoom) December 3, 2021
Investigators were attempting to determine out how the 15-year-old obtained the weapon, he said.
"It's a criminal in Michigan if someone lends someone a firearm who can't lawfully own it," he explained. "This individual is not allowed to carry or own a weapon, thus giving it to them would be illegal. And, clearly, if he brings it inside the school, that's a separate crime in which they took part."
The shooting, according to officials, took place in the following manner.
Prosecutors claimed video from school security cameras showed Crumbley entering a bathroom with a bag, then exiting with the backpack removed and a pistol in hand a minute later.
According to prosecutor Marc Keast, Crumbley started shooting outside the restroom. After kids began fleeing, he moved down the corridor at a "methodical pace," shooting into classrooms and at pupils who had not fled, according to Keast. Keast stated this carried on for another four or five minutes before he walked to another bathroom.
According to Bouchard, video from the school shows the offender firing at the victims at close range, typically aiming for the head or chest.
When deputies came, Crumbley laid his pistol down and surrendered, according to officials.
Crumbley was charged with four charges of first-degree murder and terrorist-causing death. According to McDonald, he also faces seven counts of attempted murder and 12 counts of possession of a handgun during the commission of a felony.
"There's a lot of digital proof... film, social media posts, but you probably don't need to see it to understand how terrible it is to be in close proximity to another student shooting and murdering fellow classmates. It's terrifying, I mean "The terrorist claim was brought up by McDonald to CNN.
In response to the first-degree murder allegations, McDonald told reporters that the crime "needs premeditation, and I am completely convinced after analyzing the evidence that it isn't even a close call, it was absolutely premeditated."
Crumbley's attorney, who was just there for the arraignment, filed a not guilty plea on his behalf. A probable cause hearing has been set for December 13 and a preliminary examination hearing has been set for December 20. The Oakland County Jail is where he is being kept.
Survivors who are grieving and dealing with trauma.
Students who survived the massacre are trying to cope as detectives pore through facts from the shooting.
As the situation proceeded, Javon Pittman, an Oxford High student, claimed he took shelter. "We simply turned the lights out and hid under the desk," the 17-year-old told CNN on Wednesday. "We positioned the table at the door, blocked the doors, and we just turned the lights off and hid under the desk."
While he was hiding, he contacted his father and told him there had been a shooting at his school, according to Javon. Jonte, his younger brother, was also in the school at the time of the shooting and managed to flee.
"To hear a phone call like that was horrible," Jamar Pittman, Javon's father, stated.
Javon and his father both grew upset as they recalled their dread at the time.
"You make an effort to be present for your children. You're worried because you can't be present for your children. And for you to be their leader, parent, superhero, or anything else you choose to be. You won't be able to save your children. That's horrifying "Jamar Pittman expressed his thoughts.
Two of the shooting victims, Javon added, were like brothers to him.
"Justin and I were excellent friends (Shilling). We were cool because we used to giggle over everything... Tate (Myre) was a fantastic young man. Apart from my father and God, he was possibly... the finest person I could ever meet "Javon said.
Tate was a close buddy of Zander Cumbey, a student at the high school, with whom he played football, according to CNN.
He told CNN, "He was a tremendous guy, a great leader." "He was always concerned about everyone's well-being and was active in everything he could."
The students who were killed in a school shooting.
Four youngsters, the youngest of whom was 14 years old, were killed in the incident.
Hana St. Juliana, 14, played basketball for Oxford High School.
The squad remarked on Twitter, "We will never forget your wonderful heart, goofy attitude, and enthusiasm for the game." "You've been committed to Oxford Basketball since 6th-grade camp, absorbing in the game."
"At this tragic time, our sympathies are with his family and friends," the statement added.
Madisyn Baldwin, 17, was set to graduate this year, according to her family, and had already been accepted to a number of institutions, some of which offered full scholarships.
"Today, this beautiful, intelligent, lovely, loving daughter was sadly snatched from us all, leaving a great hole in all of our hearts... " Jennifer Graves Mosqueda, Baldwin's grandma, said on Facebook. "This dreadful day could never have been predicted or planned."
Tate Myre, 16, was a football player who had been on the varsity squad at his school since he was a freshman, according to a tweet from the team. He was also a high-achieving student.
"Tate was a wonderful young man with a promising future who was well-liked by everyone. Tate, you will be missed "Tuesday evening, the team sent out a tweet.
Shimon Prokupecz of CNN reported from Oxford, while Jason Hanna and Aya Elamroussi contributed from Atlanta and New York, respectively. This report included contributions from Caroll Alvarado, Kristina Sgueglia, Adrienne Broaddus, Amir Vera, Carolyn Sung, Laura Ly, Sahar Akbarzai, Kiely Westhoff, Laura Dolan, Leon Jobe, and Taylor Romine.