I'm not sure what crimes you are talking about? I don't know about the terms of the court appearance, so are they fugitives, has there been a warrant for their arrest?
Do we have proof, or only gossip, (social media) if this was a gift to their son. I had originally heard it was the father's gun, and the son only said again on social media that it was a gift to him. And if so, in my rural area, young people do receive guns as gifts, it doesn't mean that they are immediately responsible, but the parents in my area take their children hunting or gun practice. It's not an immediate inheritant skill the children have but is learned. Since the gun was only bought recently, maybe dad was going to teach skills of how to handle the gun to his son?
As far as mom's text, don't do it, I truly feel that was a gut reaction after the school meeting that morning, possibly she saw something in his attitude that seemed defeated. Don't do it could have meant, don't hurt yourself?
I am truly at a lost why you would bring into the conversation about the fathers child support for his older children? If you follow any kind of law, or in the court, that is inadmissible because it isn't even relevant to the case. This is why, if I ever did anything wrong to be tried in court, I would only choose to be judged by a judge, not a jury. I am honestly astounded by the response tonight. I pray our justice system prevails and crimes will be tried, if guilty, punished, but no one will be swept into incarceration by public opinion alone. Let the facts decide. MOO