In a trial held in the US state of Michigan, James Crumbley, the father of a teenager who perpetrated a fatal school shooting near Detroit, was found guilty of manslaughter. The trial took place a month after his wife, Jennifer Crumbley, was convicted on similar charges related to the 2021 incident.
James Crumbley faced four counts of involuntary manslaughter, corresponding to each victim of the shooting at Oxford High School. The jury reached its verdict after deliberating on Wednesday.
The couple's son, Ethan Crumbley, who was 15 at the time of the shooting, pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and other charges in 2022. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole in December of the same year.
The prosecution argued that James and Jennifer Crumbley were responsible for the tragedy as they provided their son with a firearm and ignored warning signs of his violent tendencies. They will be sentenced on April 9, with manslaughter carrying a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
The case attracted significant attention as it marked the first instance of parents being charged with manslaughter in connection to their child's involvement in a school shooting. Prosecutors presented evidence suggesting that James Crumbley repeatedly overlooked signs of his son's distress and failed to take appropriate actions to address his mental health concerns and safely store the firearm.
Gun safety experts hope that the Crumbley trials will raise awareness about the importance of securely storing firearms in households, particularly considering that a significant proportion of school shooters obtain weapons from their own homes.
The tragic event unfolded after Ethan Crumbley's concerning drawings and messages were discovered at school, prompting a meeting with teachers. Despite these alarming signs, the Crumbleys resisted taking their son home and did not thoroughly investigate his backpack or inquire about the gun. Subsequently, Ethan returned to class and carried out the shooting.
Throughout the trials, the defense argued that James Crumbley could not have predicted his son's actions and highlighted a lack of evidence suggesting he was aware of the contents of Ethan's communications.
