The accused Michigan high school shooter told officials that violent drawings he made ahead of his deadly rampage were for a “video game,” a letter released Saturday said.
Just one day before the Tuesday mass shooting, an Oxford High School counselor and another staff member had talked to Ethan Crumbley, 15, after he was spotted shopping for bullets on his phone, according to the letter, published by WXYZ.
The morning of the shooting that left four dead and seven injured they talked to his parents about drawings Ethan was making in class about murder and suicide, superintendent Tim Thorne reportedly wrote.
“The student was immediately removed from the classroom and brought to the guidance counselor’s office where he claimed the drawing was part of a video game he was designing and informed counselors that he planned to pursue video game design as a career,” Thorne told parents, according to the article.
“At no time did counselors believe the student might harm others based on his behavior, responses and demeanor, which appeared calm.”
Officials said they told his parents – who are now facing charges of involuntary manslaughter in connection with their alleged role in the rampage — to bring him to a shrink in two days or face CPS.
“When the parents were asked to take their son home for the day, they flatly refused and left without their son, apparently to return to work,” Thorne reportedly wrote in the letter.
“Given the fact that the child had no prior disciplinary infractions, the decision was made he would be returned to the classroom rather than sent home to an empty house.”
Officials could not confirm media reports that Crumbley was carrying a gun in his backpack, according to the report.
“While we understand this decision has caused anger, confusion and prompted understandable questioning, the counselors made a judgment based on their professional training and clinical experience and did not have all the facts we now know,” the letter stated.
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