this is "nightline." tonight, inside the horror of the michigan school shooting. >> she started to say that there's somebody with a gun outside in the hallway. >> how one student and his classmates fought to survive. >> i looked at my classmate's face and i'll never forget. we started to barricade the door. >> now where the alleged shooter's parents who had been on the run are in the same jail as their son facing charges. >> the parents are responsible and i think that they should be held accountable. plus, the rams. learning more than just football. in one of the toughest neighborhoods in the country. >> any other kids out there? >> the police aren't there to make arrests but to teach

lessons on and off the gridiron. >> i know my babies are safe from 6:00 to 8:00. >> "nightline" will be right back. see how fast dust reappears. ustrating to but dusting with a cloth is a pain. and dealing with a bulky vacuum.. . is such a hassle. uchhh!!! so now we use our swiffer sweeper and dusters. the fluffy fibers? they pick up dust easily. grabbing it in all those hard-to-reach places. gotcha!!! and for our floors, sweeper's textured cloths lock all kinds of dirt, dust and pet hair. unlike my vacuum, it sneaks under and around places. look at that!! dust free and hassle free. stop cleaning and start swiffering. ♪ ♪ tequila herradura. extraordinary awaits. where's mom? she said she would be home in time for the show. ♪ don't worry, sweetie. she promised she'd be here for it. ooh! nice shot! thanks!

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but for his parents. abc's trevor alt is in pontiac for us tonight. ♪ ♪ >> it started out as a normal tuesday. very foggy that morning. walked into class, the student comes in behind me and she starts saying that there's somebody with a gun outside in the hallway around the corner. we arm ourselves with scissors, hockey sticks, nick we could find, to fend off the assailant if they entered our room. >> reporter: dilan morris, like so many 17-year-olds, has so much to look forward to. but today, he's talking about what he just lived through. >> i was texting my parents to tell them that i love them, and that if i don't make it out of this, then i'm very sorry. >> reporter: it's been six days

since a mass shooting at oxford high school in michigan took the lives of tour students. tate, hanna, madison, and justin. seven others were injured, including a teacher, leaving this community trying to make sense of a senseless tragedy. >> the fact that i heard two of the gunshots and those probably either hurt somebody or even killed somebody is just insane to me. >> reporter: in the aftermat, the alleged gunman, 15-year-old ethan crumbley, charged as an adult with terrorism and first degree murder. >> i am absolutely sure after reviewing the evidence that it isn't even a close call. it was absolutely premeditated. >> reporter: parents, james and jennifer crumbley, charged with for counts of involuntary manslaughter. they're also behind bars, the same prison as their son. leaving so many asking questions still unanswered. what could have been done? what warning signs were missed?

and why was a troubled teenager so easily able to access a firearm? >> gun owners have the responsibility. when they fail to uphold responsibility, there are serious and criminal consequences. >> reporter: now, in the wake of this nation's deadliest school shooti iing since 2018, investigators are taking a close look at the days leading up to the attack, as the shooter had repeatedly drawn concerns at his school and the actions of his family. >> we all should be looking at the events that led up to that horrific event. >> reporter: just four days before the shooting, ethan crumbley's father legally purchased a 9 millimeter sig sauer hand gun. that day, the alleged shooter posted this now deleted instagram photo, captioned just got my new beauty today. and this post from his mother's account, captioned mom and son day, testing out his new christmas present. on november 29th, prosecutors say a teacher reported the

suspect searching ammunition on his phone. the school reported they called the parents, but the parents didn't respond. >> jennifer crumbley ex-changed text messages about the incident with her son on that day, stating, "lol, i'm not mad at you, you have to learn not to get caught." >> every text message, every social media post, whether it be an innocent one with ethan and his mother or his father or all three of them together, with a picture of this gun is going to be used as circumstantial evidence by the prosecution to show that they should have known something. >> reporter: and then the morning of the shooting, prosecutors say another teacher was alarmed by a picture drawn by the teen, that included a gun, a bullet, and a person appearing shot, along with the words "the thoughts won't stop, help me. blood everywhere. my life is useless, and the world is dead."

>> we're going hear from each and every person in ethan's school that raised a r flag or a concern. that's also going to be used by the prosecution to show this level of negligence that they should have known or seen these red flags, and for all intents and purposes, they ignored it. >> reporter: crumbley's parents were immediately summoned to school and they met with officials there, who informed them their son had to receive mental health counseling within 48 hours. according to the school, the parents resisted taking him home. >> his return back to class with his backpack where we have reason to believe the gun was stored in the backpack. >> reporter: at 12:51 p.m., surveillance video shows crumbley entering a bathroom carrying a backpack. soon after, he exits without the backpack and now with the gun in hand. >> my teacher, the look on her face, i'll never forget. the look on my classmate's maces i'll never forget. her and i start to barricade the doors.

>> reporter: at 1:22 p.m., 30 minutes after the shooting began, jennifer crumbley texts her son, don't do it! at 1:37:james crumbley calls 911 to report his gun is missing. telling the operator he believes the oxford school shooter might be his son. how long were you there in the classroom? >> a little less than an hour. >> were you on edge and frantic the whole time? >> we were all on edge the whole time. >> reporter: police ultimately arrest the shooter without incident. investigators then turned their focus on his parents, scheduled to be arraigned three days aftew up. leading authorities on an hours long manhunt. the u.s. marshals putting out a $10,000 reward for information leading to their arrest. they're eventually found by authorities in an empty building saturday morning, after a citizen spotted their vehicle and called police. >> the district attorney is attacking in a unique way, where if the guns can't be held

responsible or the people operating the guns can't be held responsible, especially in these settings, they're going to go after the parents to make sure the parents are responsible for the children. >> good afternoon. please be seated. >> reporter: the couple, pleading not guilty to involuntary manslaughter, jennifer crumbley fighting tears. james crumbley shaking his head at the prosecutor's accusations. >> for the prosecutor, she's saying that the gun in ethan crumbley's possession, and what was going on with him in the school are something the parents knew of and disregarded. >> michigan does not have a child access prevention act. these states don't wake up to this until there is a really high profile shooting and then suddenly they say we should pass this law. that's exactly where michigan is right now. >> reporter: more than 4 million minors live in homes with loaded, unlocked firearms. it's prompted mothers like

kristen song to take action. >> we're not going after the responsible gun owners, but the negligent ones. >> reporter: she's testified for stronger gun safety laws, three years after her son, ethan, was killed. he had been shot at his best friend's house. the teens were playing with a hand gun thand he than was shotn the head. i sat down with the songs back in june. >> we realized that if you lose a child, you gain a mission. and from there, we began working on ethan's law. >> love is the central guiding element of any great team. >> reporter: after months of lobbying, they celebrated when the connecticut legislature passed ethan's law in 2019, requiring secure gun storage or a safety device in homes with a minor. under ethan's law, owners could someone.l time if their weapon -

>> that's some common sense laws. >> reporter: now they're on a mission to make ethan's law national, that legislators are calling for stricter gun control laws in the wake of the oxford shooting. >> there is this misconception in the united states that america is split on guns. the division on guns is not among common americans. it is on capitol hill. and there are lawmakers who made a calculation, who decided that the threat of the nra is scarier than the mom groups, the people who want change. >> reporter: and back in oxford, michigan, the first wakes for the victims are taking place today. dilan remembering tate, a friend and football player, who lost his life in the tragic shooting. >> i went to kindergarten with him. i've had a bunch of classes with

him ever since then. very bright student. great athlete. >> do you remember hearing that he was among the people who had been killed? >> i did. i was at home, and i just couldn't believe it. didn't feel real. yeah. >> reporter: and in the midst of yet another crisis in our country, dilan hopes for a legacy beyond the tragedy. >> oxford won't be defined by this. we may be remembered for it, but we will not be defined by it. our school should be defined for its kind, considerate students. it's just very tragic that this happens anywhere. >> our thanks to trevor. up next, the kids from the watts section of l.a. and the cops trying to make a difference in their lives. with type 2 diabetes ving are waking up to what's possible with rybelsus®. with rybelsus®. with rybelsus®.

♪ you are my sunshine ♪ ♪ you are my sunshine ♪ ♪ my only sunshine... ♪ rybelsus® is a pill that lowers rybelsus® is a pill that lowers rybelsus® is a pill that lowers blood sugar in three ways. increases insulin when you need it... increases insulin when you need it... increases insulin when you need it... decreases sugar... decreases sugar... decreases sugar... and slows food. the majority of people taking rybelsus® lowered their blood sugar and reached an a1c of less than 7. rybelsus® isn't for people with type 1 diabetes. don't take rybelsus® if you or your family don't take rybelsus® if you or your family don't take rybelsus® if you or your family ever had medullary thyroid cancer, or have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or if allergic to it. or if allergic to it. stop rybelsus® and get medical help right away stop rybelsus® and get medical help right away if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, severe stomach pain, or an allergic reaction. serious side effects may include pancreatitis. tell your provider about vision problems or changes. tell your provider about vision problems or changes. tell your provider about vision problems or changes. taking rybelsus® with a sulfonylurea or insulin increases low blood sugar risk. or insulin increases low blood sugar risk. or insulin increases low blood sugar risk. side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may lead to dehydration, which may worsen kidney problems. wake up to what's possible with rybelsus®. wake up to what's possible with rybelsus®. ♪ please don't take my sunshine away ♪ you may pay as little you may pay as little

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where's mom? she said she would be home in time for the show. don't worry, sweetie. she promised she'd be here for it. ooh! nice shot! thanks! glad we have xfinity, with wifi speed faster than a gig! me too! woah, look! mom is on tv! she's amazing! (cheers) xfinity brought us together, after all! get a great offer on xfinity internet, and you'll get 6 times the speed for the same price when you add xfinity mobile. switch today. sing 2

the watts rams play to win, on the football field certainly. and their coaches hope that the lessons they're handing off will be carried through life. here's abc's will carr. >> reporter: under the bright lights, these kids are learning to pass, catch, and run with the ball on the only turf seen for miles. this is practice, but this football program is tackling much more than xs and os. >> they're running a post. >> reporter: if the helmets look familiar, that navy blue with the yellow horn, they're wearing los angeles rams gear. they may live in the same city as the pros, but in many ways

they're world aways. but they are navigating a pathway to victory. they're one victory away to play in the nfl stadium. for 14-year-old johnny, it's the opportunity of a lifetime. >> i always dreamed about it as a kid. i don't have words for it. i imagine all the fans just standing up if i score a touchdown, throw a touchdown. get a sack, anything. >> reporter: this team is all about making those dreams come true, both on and off the field. >> round 25, slot reverse. >> reporter: and the coach's duties don't stop after the last whistle blows. that's because the team is coached by lapd cops serving the neighborhood of watts. they gear up to make one of their regular visits to the schools in the area. >> any other kids out there? >> reporter: but they're not here to make arrests. >> hello, mr. rodriguez.

>> reporter: instead, they're checking on their players. >> how are you guys doing? >> we're visiting. >> hello, guys. we just want to say hello. how are you? >> reporter: all part of a proactive effort to bridge the trust gap between the members of the community where the roots of distrust run deep. >> six days of rioting left behind scenes torn cities. >> reporter: the violence lasted for six days, leaving over 30 dead. l.a. would see it again 30 years later following the police beating of rodney king. and most recently, civil unrest erupting in the deaths of george floyd and breonna taylor. for johnny, the watts rams has mom has noticed a big , and his-

difference. >> that's all he does is dream and sleep playing football, grades have gone up. you know, tours at home. respectable. they've got him to be a nice young man. >> reporter: back on the field, these young players don't see cops, just coaches. >> one, two, three. >> reporter: sarah thompson, the players call him coach z., started the team in 2011. >> a wild dream. took 30 kids from different housing developments within south l.a. started a team with 30. now we're over 100 plus. >> you're not only here with these kids but you're out in the streets, seeing it day in and day out. >> the relationship with the police and the community, it's getting better. so a lot of parts, a lot of families are buying into what we're doing. but we still have that little trust issue. >> jimmy: 13-year-old lucille hall has seen the trust issues

first hand. >> they came in all their police gear and i go to a mainly black school, and everybody was like, oh, no. everybody was just scared. one cat started crying, and i was like no, they're kill. they're chill. these are police that you can trust. >> reporter: on a team that welcomes both boys and girls, lucille wears a pink mouthguard and is getting used to the feel of the helmet and shoulder pads. >> y'all ready to play? >> reporter: changing her perception of the game and of law enforcement, as well. >> one of my cousins, he got shot by the police, and it was just a lot for the whole family. i was like, nah, i don't want to ever be associated with police. now i see like, police are not like all the same, you know? >> jimmy: johnny, who has aspirations of playing for the nfl rams, shares a similar experience. >> i had a family member gunned

down and the police weren't doing about it. i thought they were lazy and didn't doing nothing. but i came to the watts rams and i realize how hard they work. >> reporter: when you think about police officers now, what do you think? >> i think they're heroes. >> there's gangs in the community, there's overpopulated schools in the community. so they're dealing with stuff that i dealt with as a kid growing up in south l.a. myself. i know my babies are safe from 6:00 to 8:00. >> you just called them your babies. why do you call them your babies? >> now you're about to make me choke up. i tell them all the time, i love you guys like you're my own. you talk about just drugs and gangs and all those things, they're here, you know. but it doesn't define what the community represents. these kids, they want to be more than that. but what this program does, is it allows them to become part of something else that belongs to the community in such a meaningful and impactful way.

>> reporter: in 2017, the los angeles rams sponsored the team. >> i fell in love with the program and the vision and what was possible. i was confident if the rams came in, we could add rocket fuel to what they were doing and make it even better. >> reporter: the rams provided uniforms, a state of the art field, and a chance to meet nfl players and coaches. one of the biggest is to compete in the stadium. this year they did just that. battling it out, but suffering defeat, leaving the players with tears in their eyes. >> you win some, you lose some. no big deal. >> reporter: for the watts rams, football is a game of connections, with players and

coache coaches. >> our thanks to will. up next, the moving tribute. the lions and the vikings, honoring the lives lost at oxford high. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ experience the power of sanctuary at the lincoln wish list event. there's a different way to treat hiv. it's once-monthly injectable cabenuva. cabenuva is the only once-a-month, complete hiv treatment for adults who are undetectable. cabenuva helps keep me undetectable. it's two injections, given by a healthcare provider once a month. hiv pills aren't on my mind.

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people everywhere living with type 2 diabetes are waking up to what's possible with rybelsus®. ♪ you are my sunshine ♪ ♪ my only sunshine... ♪ rybelsus® is a pill that lowers blood sugar in three ways. increases insulin when you need it... decreases sugar... and slows food. the majority of people taking rybelsus® lowered their blood sugar and reached an a1c of less than 7. rybelsus® isn't for people with type 1 diabetes.

don't take rybelsus® if you or your family ever had medullary thyroid cancer, or have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or if allergic to it. stop rybelsus® and get medical help right away if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, severe stomach pain, or an allergic reaction. serious side effects may include pancreatitis. tell your provider about vision problems or changes. taking rybelsus® with a sulfonylurea or insulin increases low blood sugar risk. side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may lead to dehydration, which may worsen kidney problems. wake up to what's possible with rybelsus®. ♪ please don't take my sunshine away ♪ you may pay as little as $10 per prescription. ask your healthcare provider about rybelsus® today.

finally tonight, the detroit lions dedicating their first win of the season to the victims of the oxford high school shooting. before the game, there was a moment of silence. both the lions and the vikings, wearing the oxford high "o" on their helmets. and elliott wore a jersey honoring tate myre, the junior who hoped to play college football. that's "nightline." watch all of our full episodes on hulu. see you