In a Michigan courtroom, James Crumbley, the father of a teenager who perpetrated a fatal school shooting near Detroit, was convicted of manslaughter.
Prosecutors argued that Crumbley and his wife were culpable for providing their son with a gun and disregarding warning signs of potential violence. This verdict follows his wife’s prior manslaughter conviction relating to the same incident.
James Crumbley, 47, faced four counts of involuntary manslaughter, corresponding to the four victims of the 2021 Oxford High School shootings. The jury deliberated on Wednesday before reaching a verdict.
Both James and Jennifer Crumbley are scheduled for sentencing on April 9. Manslaughter carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
Their son, Ethan, committed the shooting at age 15 using a semi-automatic handgun. He pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including four counts of first-degree murder, receiving a life sentence without parole in December 2022.
This case marks a rare instance of parents being charged in connection with a child’s school shooting. Prosecutors argued that James Crumbley repeatedly ignored signs of his son’s distress and failed to secure the firearm properly at home.
The defense contended that Crumbley could not have foreseen his son’s actions. They emphasized a lack of evidence showing he was aware of the contents of his son’s communications or journal entries.
Gun safety experts hope these trials will underscore the importance of securely storing firearms, as many school shooters obtain weapons from their own homes. Prosecutors revealed that James Crumbley purchased the handgun used in the attack just days before the shootings.
Despite receiving concerning drawings from Ethan on the morning of the incident, the Crumbleys allegedly did not take decisive action. The prosecution argued that they were informed of the need for counseling but resisted removing Ethan from school, ultimately leading to the tragic outcome.
