Oakland County prosecutor gives update on Oxford High School shooting case
Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald on Tuesday afternoon answered questions from press following a probable cause conference for James and Jennifer Crumbley.
Detroit, Mich. – Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald on Tuesday afternoon answered questions from press following a probable cause hearing for Oxford High School shooting suspect Ethan Crumbley's parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley.
The parents appeared before an Oakland County court Tuesday, wearing prison uniforms and handcuffs. Judge Julie Nicholson said a preliminary examination, when the couple will appear next in court, would be held on Feb. 8, 2022, as attorneys comb through hundreds of pages of discovery, or evidence, in their respective cases.
James and Jennifer Crumbley appear before an Oakland County court in Michigan on Dec. 14, 2021. (Fox News' Audrey Conklin)
"I'm not concerned at all. I have, in my view, the best lawyers in the state behind me. We're prepared. We're going to argue vigorously that they should remain detained based on the fact that they — when the charges were issued — didn't turn themselves in, and they tried to flee and the seriousness of the crime, so I'm not concerned," McDonald said Tuesday.
She continued: "We're going to treat this case like we do every other case. We will release documents and evidence the moment it won't impact our prosecution."
Jennifer Crumbley appears in an Oakland County court on Dec. 14, 2021. (Fox News' Audrey Conklin) (Fox News Digital)
McDonald said earlier Tuesday during the probable cause conference that there are still hundreds of pages of discovery to examine, and her office only had access to about "a third" of that discovery as of Tuesday.
SUSPECTED MICHIGAN SCHOOL SHOOTER ETHAN CRUMBLEY PROBABLE CAUSE CONFERENCE ADJOURNED
"Our focus is on the victims in this case and the prosecution," she said.
While there is "certainly" enough evidence "to establish the charges" in the Crumbleys' cases, there is still "more investigation that needs to be done."
Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald outside an Oakland County courthouse on Dec. 14, 2021. (Fox News' Audrey Conklin)
"There were hundreds of children in school that day," the prosecutor said. "So, we feel we owe it to the victims and that community to delay long enough so that we can…properly prepare and give them time to heal."
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James and Jennifer Crumbley are facing four counts of involuntary manslaughter each after their 15-year-old son was accused of killing four students at Oxford High and injuring seven others, including a teacher, in a Nov. 30 shooting.
Ethan Crumbley was subsequently arrested and charged as an adult with one count of terrorism causing death, four counts of first-degree murder, seven counts of assault with intent to murder and 12 counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
A probable cause hearing for Ethan Crumbley was adjourned Monday until Jan. 4.
Fox News' Emma Colton contributed to this report.
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