The Michigan school shooting suspect's parents have hired high-powered attorneys to defend themselves, but their son has a public defender

• The Michigan school shooting suspect was assigned a public defender in court.
• Meanwhile, his parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, have hired a high-powered attorney for themselves in court.

The parents of the Michigan high school shooting suspect have hired a high-powered defense attorney to represent them, while their son has been appointed a public defender.

James and Jennifer Crumbley have hired Shannon Smith to represent them in court, according to court documents.

They are each charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the shooting at Oxford High School that left four students dead and another seven people injured.

Meanwhile, their son — a 15-year-old student at the school — will be represented by a court-appointed public defender, Paulette Michel Loftin, court documents show.

Loftin told the Detroit Free Press she was appointed to the case on Thursday and has since spoken with her client.

Shannon Marie Smith and Paulette Michel Loftin did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Smith previously represented Larry Nassar, the former gymnastics Team USA doctor who was convicted of sexually abusing young girls, including Olympic stars Simone Biles and Aly Raisman.

In a previous statement to Insider, Smith identified a partner at her firm, Mariell Lehman, as another lawyer for the family.

The teen has been charged with 24 counts, including 4 counts of first-degree murder and terrorism.

He was arrested immediately following the shooting and will be tried as an adult.