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The father of a teenager who shot four classmates dead has been found guilty of manslaughter a month after his wife was also convicted.

Ethan Crumbley is serving life in prison for murder after killing four classmates at Oxford High School, near Detroit, in Michigan, in November 2021, when he was 15.

In a landmark case, his mother Jennifer Crumbley, 45, was found guilty of four counts of manslaughter – one for each victim – in February this year.

After prosecutors argued Ethan’s father also bore responsibility because he and his wife gave their son the gun and ignored signs of violence, James Crumbley, 47, was convicted on Thursday.

The Crumbleys were the first parents to be charged with manslaughter in a child’s school shooting in a country where such incidents are relatively common.

Gun safety experts hope the Crumbley trials serve as a wake-up call for parents to secure weapons in their homes, with 75% of school shooters getting guns from home, according to government research.

“This is a very egregious and rare, rare set of facts,” prosecutor Karen McDonald told the jury on Wednesday.

Jennifer and James Crumbley in court. File pic
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Jennifer and James Crumbley in court. Pic: AP

Ms McDonald said James Crumbley repeatedly ignored warning signs his son was deeply disturbed, did not get him help, and did not do enough to safely store the firearm in the family home.

“He did nothing over and over and over again,” she added.

Ms McDonald also presented texts Ethan sent to a friend and journal entries in the months before the shooting, in which he talked about wanting medical help and hearing voices, but he was worried his parent would be “pissed”.

On one occasion, according to a text message to a friend, Ms McDonald said Ethan had asked James Crumbley to take him to the doctor, but his dad “gave me some pills and told me to suck it up”.

Defendant Jennifer Crumbley appears during her jury trial at the Oakland County Courthouse, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, in Pontiac, Mich. Crumbley, 45, is on trial for involuntary manslaughter, the first time parents have been charged in a U.S. mass school shooting. She and her husband are accused of contributing to the deaths at Oxford High School by neglecting their son's needs and making a gun accessible at home. (Clarence Tabb Jr./Detroit News via AP, Pool)
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Jennifer Crumbley. Pic: Detroit News via AP

Defence lawyer Mariell Lehman argued James Crumbley could not have possibly foreseen his son would carry out a mass shooting.

“James had no idea that his son was having a hard time,” Ms Lehman told jurors, saying no evidence had been presented that James knew the contents of his son’s text messages or journal.

‘The thoughts won’t stop – help me’

According to prosecutors, James Crumbley bought the gun used in the attack four days before the shootings.

Ethan Crumbley
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Ethan Crumbley. Pic Reuters

On the morning of the shootings, on 30 November, a teacher found drawings by Ethan showing a handgun, a bullet and a bleeding figure next to the words “blood everywhere”, “my life is useless”, and “the thoughts won’t stop – help me”.

Summoned to the school that same morning, the Crumbleys were told Ethan needed counselling and they needed to take him home, according to prosecutors.

But the couple wouldn’t take their son, prosecutors said, and did not search his rucksack or ask him about the gun.

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Both of the Crumbleys challenged that account in their trials, saying teachers in the meeting mutually agreed Ethan could remain in school that day and at no point did they think he posed a danger.

Ethan was returned to class and later walked out of a bathroom with the gun and began firing, according to prosecutors, killing 14-year-old Hana St Juliana, 16-year-old Tate Myre, 17-year-old Madisyn Baldwin, and 17-year-old Justin Shilling and injuring seven other people.

Jennifer Crumbley is set to be sentenced on 9 April.

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Scottie Scheffler: Golf star ‘rattled’ and ‘in shock’ after being arrested by police

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Scottie Scheffler: Golf star 'rattled' and 'in shock' after being arrested by police

World number one golfer Scottie Scheffler says he was “rattled” and “in shock” after he was arrested and charged by police this morning.

The 27-year-old reportedly tried to get around a traffic jam caused by a fatal accident near the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, at around 6am local time (11am UK time) on Friday.

He is due to appear in court on Tuesday after being charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding signals from officers directing traffic.

Scheffler was released at 8:40am local time (1:40pm UK time) and allowed to return to the golf course to play his second round of the PGA Championship, where he currently sits three shots off the lead.

Speaking to reporters after his round, Scheffler said: “It was a chaotic situation and a big misunderstanding. My head is still spinning.

“I spent some time warming up in a jail cell, which was a first for me.

“I was pretty rattled, to say the least… I was never angry, I was just in shock. I was shaking for about an hour.

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“Coming out here and trying to play today was definitely a challenge, but I did my best to control my mind and control my breathing… just try to play golf.

“I knew there was going to be a lot of distractions… but to be honest, it was great having the fans behind me. I felt they were really glad to have me out here competing today.”

Police earlier released a mugshot taken of Scheffler while he was wearing an orange jailed-issued jumpsuit.

The fatal crash occurred this morning when a bus struck and killed a man as he was crossing the road near the front gate of the Valhalla Golf Club.

 Scottie Scheffler tees off No. 10 to begin his second round of the PGA Championship, May 17, 2024, at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. Pic: AP
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Scottie Scheffler tees off hours after being detained and handcuffed. Pic: AP

Tournament officials said they were “devastated” by the death of local man John Mills, who was working for an on-site vendor at Valhalla.

Scheffler, who was not involved in the accident, was allegedly trying to drive around the crash site when he failed to stop for a police officer.

An officer is then said to have grabbed on to Scheffler’s car.

The golfer drove around 10 to 20 yards before stopping his vehicle at the entrance to Valhalla, according to an ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington who was on the scene.

Darlington said: “At that point the police officer instructed Scheffler to get out of the car.

“He rolled down the window, the police officer grabbed his arm and started pulling at it. He reached inside, opened the car door, pulled Scheffler out, pushed him up against the car, immediately placed him in handcuffs.”

According to the police report, a detective stopped Scheffler’s car and “attempted to give instruction”.

The report continued: “Subject refused to comply and accelerated forward, dragging Detective Gillis to the ground. Detective Gillis suffered pain, swelling and abrasions to his left wrist and knees.

“He was transported to the hospital for further medical treatment by emergency medical personnel. Detective Gillis’ uniform pants, valued at approximately $80, were damaged beyond repair.”

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LOUISVILLE, KY - MAY 17: Fans look on as Scottie Scheffler walks off the No. 10 tee box after beginning his second round of the PGA Championship, May 17, 2024, at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. Pic: AP
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Scottie Scheffler was given a roar of support as he teed off in the second round. Pic: AP

In a statement, Scheffler’s attorney Steve Romines said the player was proceeding as directed by a traffic officer and is alleged to have disregarded signals from another officer “in the confusion”.

“Multiple eyewitnesses have confirmed that he did not do anything wrong but was simply proceeding as directed,” the statement added.

“He stopped immediately upon being directed to and never at any point assaulted any officer with his vehicle. We will litigate this matter as needed.”

Speaking after a second round, Scheffler expressed his sympathies to the family of Mr Mills.

“I can’t imagine what they’re going through this morning,” Scheffler said.

“My situation will get handled… I can’t get into what transpired… my heart goes out to the family.”

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P Diddy: ‘Gut-wrenching’ video appears to show Sean Combs assaulting singer Cassie in 2016

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P Diddy: 'Gut-wrenching' video appears to show Sean Combs assaulting singer Cassie in 2016

“Gut-wrenching” CCTV footage which appears to show Sean Combs attacking singer Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel “has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behaviour” of the rapper, her lawyer has said.

The 54-year-old, whose homes in Los Angeles and Miami were raided by Homeland Security Investigations agents in March, has faced a series of public allegations of physical and sexual violence.

Footage obtained by CNN appears to show Combs also known as P Diddy and Puff Daddy – wearing only a white towel as he punches and kicks Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel hallway on 5 March 2016.

The R&B singer, whose legal name is Cassandra Ventura, was his protege and girlfriend at the time.

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The footage also shows Combs shoving and dragging her across the floor, as well as throwing a vase in her direction.

It closely resembles the description of an incident at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles described in a lawsuit filed by Cassie in November that alleged years of sexual abuse and other violence from Combs.

The case was settled the day after it was filed.

Several more lawsuits were filed in the following months, along with a federal criminal sex-trafficking investigation that led authorities to raid Combs’ mansions in Los Angeles and Miami.

Representatives for Combs did not immediately comment on the video. He has previously denied the allegations in the lawsuits and his lawyers have said he denies any wrongdoing.

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P Diddy’s homes raided

Cassie’s lawyer said: “The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behaviour of Mr Combs.

“Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light.”

According to NBC News, Sky News’ US partner, if Cassie were to make a complaint the LAPD could investigate, but charges would likely be declined by the district attorney because California law has a one-year statute of limitations for assault and the alleged incident happened nearly eight years ago.

CNN did not say how it obtained the video, but noted it verified the location it was shot by comparing the footage to publicly available images of the InterContinental Hotel.

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Steve Buscemi: Homeless man charged over random assault on Hollywood actor in New York City street

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Steve Buscemi: Homeless man charged over random assault on Hollywood actor in New York City street

A homeless man has been charged over the random attack on Hollywood actor Steve Buscemi on a New York Street earlier this month.

The 66-year-old Broadwalk Empire and Fargo star was punched in the face by a stranger while he was walking in midtown Manhattan on 8 May, city police said.

He was taken to hospital with bruising, swelling and bleeding to his left eye but was otherwise fine, his publicist said at the time.

A man wanted in connection with the attack was arrested on Friday, police said.

The 50-year-old homeless man was charged with second-degree assault in the same precinct where Buscemi was attacked.

Authorities announced on Tuesday they had identified the man as the suspect and were searching for him.

Buscemi’s publicist previously said the actor was “another victim of a random act of violence in the city” but he was OK.

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The attack came after Buscemi’s Boardwalk Empire co-star Michael Stuhlbarg was hit in the back of the neck with a rock while walking in Manhattan’s Central Park in March.

Stuhlbarg chased his attacker, who was arrested and charged over the incident.

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