Oxford Tragedy: Parents and School Failed

[RLENT]

It’s five hundred thousand each. But yes it is a lot.

The bail was likely set to the amount it was based on the parents conduct, possibility of flight risk, and failure to show at their arraignment.

The Prosecutor believes they are because they didn’t immediately go and turn themselves in. Again though they may have feared for their safety because tensions are high.

Again:

1. Headed away from Oakland County, where they were scheduled to appear in court for arraignment.

2. Failed to appear in court for arraignment.

3. Switched off cellphones to avoid detection and being located.

4. Failed to remain in communication with their attorneys.

5. Withdrew $4,000 from an ATM in Rochester Hills on Friday morning ... which is not all that far from the courthouse where they were scheduled to be arraigned, which is also in Rochester Hills.

I think I read they tried to contact the prosecutor but she didn’t respond back and said that she is under no obligation to answer to them.

You mean their attorney tried to contact the prosecutor, right ?

 

[Pilgrim]

You guys are sounding like the liberals you so detest, blaming somebody else.

OK, so in your opinion who's responsible for this mess?

 

[Ragman]

OK, so in your opinion who's responsible for this mess?

First and foremost, the kid! He pulled the trigger.

 

[danthewolf00]

But the parents bought the gun.....
So for me its
1 parents
2 the kid
3 school principal.

 

[Pilgrim]

First and foremost, the kid! He pulled the trigger.

Fair enough. But suppose he's found to be insane and not responsible for his actions?

 

[Pilgrim]

Maybe so. Certainly looks ominous considering what we know now and what happened. But kids probably draw a lot of weird stuff. And also look up all kinds of crap on their phones too. Are they suspended for that?

You bet they are. Kids are suspended for wearing the wrong kind of t-shirts and hats, also drawings of all kinds of things including guns. A quick Google search brings up tons of articles about this.

13-Year-Old Suspended For Doodling Gun

Arizona School Says "Zero Tolerance" Policy Means Drawing Of Gun Merits Suspension

www.cbsnews.com

 

[muttly]

But the parents bought the gun.....
So for me its
1 parents
2 the kid
3 school principal.

The parents bought the gun, but doubt it was for the purpose he used it for.

 

[muttly]

You bet they are. Kids are suspended for wearing the wrong kind of t-shirts and hats, also drawings of all kinds of things including guns. A quick Google search brings up tons of articles about this.

13-Year-Old Suspended For Doodling Gun

Arizona School Says "Zero Tolerance" Policy Means Drawing Of Gun Merits Suspension

www.cbsnews.com

If you’re going to report and suspend all the kids for the things they doodle or search on their phone there won’t be enough left to teach in a classroom.

 

[RLENT]

The parents bought the gun, but doubt it was for the purpose he used it for.

Nonetheless, they are responsible for failing to secure the weapon and ammo after purchase in a manner where he couldn't access it to wreak murder and mayhem.

That's why they are charged as they are.

 

[muttly]

The bail was likely set to the amount it was based on the parents conduct, possibility of flight risk, and failure to show at their arraignment.



Again:

1. Headed away from Oakland County, where they were scheduled to appear in court for arraignment.

2. Failed to appear in court for arraignment.

3. Switched off cellphones to avoid detection and being located.

4. Failed to remain in communication with their attorneys.

5. Withdrew $4,000 from an ATM in Rochester Hills on Friday morning ... which is not all that far from the courthouse where they were scheduled to be arraigned, which is also in Rochester Hills.



You mean their attorney tried to contact the prosecutor, right ?

They may have decided staying at their home and being swarmed by press and potential threats against them was untenable. So needed money to stay somewhere in the meantime. It was a surprise press conference where the sheriff didn’t even get notified in advance. The distance from the court house is irrelevant if they couldn’t secure a safe passage.
I don’t dispute that they fled just that they weren’t fleeing apprehension from authorities. Fled the potentially unsafe area where someone could harm them before they could coordinate to safely turn themselves in, which may have been hindered because the prosecutor’s office decided not to communicate with them.

 

[muttly]

They were headed in the opposite direction ... away from Oakland County.



If they were feeling threatened they could have just driven to any police station and turned themselves in.

Yes, away from the area where most likely potential harm.

 

[Ragman]

Yes, away from the area where most likely potential harm.

Now that's funny....
Run to Detroit to escape potential harm.

 

[danthewolf00]

Now that's funny....
Run to Detroit to escape potential harm.

True....where even the roads try to kill you.

 

[RLENT]

They may have decided staying at their home and being swarmed by press and potential threats against them was untenable.

Well, in terms of getting non-astronomical bail, that worked out really well didn't it ?

So needed money to stay somewhere in the meantime.

Sounds totally legit ... if one is planning to stay at a Five-Star hotel and take full advantage of the beauty salon and day spa ...

It was a surprise press conference where the sheriff didn’t even get notified in advance.

"Surprise press conference" ...

The distance from the court house is irrelevant if they couldn’t secure a safe passage.

They couldn't pick up the phone, call the local police department, and ask for an (armed) escort to the courthouse then ?

... that's what you're going with ?

I don’t dispute that they fled just that they weren’t fleeing apprehension from authorities.

What evidence do you base that on ?

Their own self-serving statements ?

Fled the potentially unsafe area where someone could harm them before they could coordinate to safely turn themselves in, which may have been hindered because the prosecutor’s office decided not to communicate with them.

So basically, it's the prosecutor's fault that they didn't appear for arraignment then ?

 

[RLENT]

The shooter may have had substance abuse problem at some point.

It was reported that a year or so ago he was recorded on video stumbling around and falling at the place where he worked. Mom blamed it on him not eating that day. Business owner doubted that, thought it might have been the meds he was on.

Report also states that his older brother worked there as well, and was caught smoking weed on the job a couple of years ago.

When he was caught someone on staff threatened to call his parents and he replied "Where do you think I got it from ?"

Seems like there are also some problems with the story of the artist who allegedly harbored the parents:

First he claimed that he was unaware that the parents were wanted by authorities ... because he doesn't watch the news.

That was followed up with a statement that he voluntarily contacted authorities ... because he saw something on the news ...

 

[RLENT]

Yes, away from the area where most likely potential harm.

No doubt a very high threat environment out there in Oxford and Rochester Hills ...

Downtown Detroit is clearly much safer.

 

[muttly]

Nonetheless, they are responsible for failing to secure the weapon and ammo after purchase in a manner where he couldn't access it to wreak murder and mayhem.

That's why they are charged as they are.

They are disputing that they didn’t secure it. The facts will determine the manner in which they did or didn’t. Apparently in Michigan there isn’t a law that requires to do so.
That is why they are charged with something else that may not fit the current statute in Michigan.
It will come down to whether the parents were aware of the likelihood that he would do what he did and were negligent in helping him. No history of violence.
Here is a highlighted part from an article that explains this from a former Federal prosecutor:

 

[muttly]

No doubt a very high threat environment out there in Oxford and Rochester Hills ...

Downtown Detroit is clearly much safer.

Certainly people are upset. Downtown Detroit is a little safer than the outer areas of the city FYI.

 

[muttly]

Well, in terms of getting non-astronomical bail, that worked out really well didn't it ?





Sounds totally legit ... if one is planning to stay at a Five-Star hotel and take full advantage of the beauty salon and day spa ...





"Surprise press conference" ...





They couldn't pick up the phone, call the local police department, and ask for an (armed) escort to the courthouse then ?

... that's what you're going with ?





What evidence do you base that on ?

Their own self-serving statements ?





So basically, it's the prosecutor's fault that they didn't appear for arraignment then ?

The Prosecutor could have made it easier in a tense environment. Not answering the phone didn’t help bring in two people that were charged. Also, she didn’t deny that they tried to communicate with her. Kind of goes against the narrative that they weren’t intending to turn themselves in.

 

[muttly]

Well, in terms of getting non-astronomical bail, that worked out really well didn't it ?





Sounds totally legit ... if one is planning to stay at a Five-Star hotel and take full advantage of the beauty salon and day spa ...





"Surprise press conference" ...





They couldn't pick up the phone, call the local police department, and ask for an (armed) escort to the courthouse then ?

... that's what you're going with ?





What evidence do you base that on ?

Their own self-serving statements ?





So basically, it's the prosecutor's fault that they didn't appear for arraignment then ?

Yes the prosecutor should have communicated better with the chief law enforcement officer in the county, but instead sprung a surprise press conference without them already in custody or knowing definitively that law enforcement knew where they were.

In Oxford School Shooting, Sheriff Rips Prosecutor Over Parents' Escape

"We did not know these charges," the sheriff stated.

www.newsweek.com