In a landmark ruling, Jennifer and James Crumbley, the first parents convicted in a U.S. mass school shooting, were sentenced to at least 10 years in prison.
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Their son, Ethan Crumbley, killed four students and injured seven others in a 2021 shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan. Although the parents were unaware Ethan had a gun in his backpack that day, prosecutors argued they contributed to the tragedy by failing to secure the weapon and ignoring clear signs of their son's mental distress, such as violent drawings seen hours before the shooting.
James Crumbley did not take the stand during his trial. His wife testified that she placed the responsibility of securing the 9 mm semiautomatic handgun used in the shooting on her husband.
Oakland County Judge Cheryl Matthews referred to the case as a series of missed opportunities to prevent the tragedy, likening it to a "runaway train." She noted that the parents ignored signs of their son’s deteriorating mental state, such as violent drawings and signs of distress, and failed to take responsible action.
The parents were convicted of involuntary manslaughter, with the judge emphasizing missed opportunities to intervene in what she described as a "runaway train." Victims’ families spoke emotionally during the sentencing, blaming the Crumbleys for their children’s deaths.
Ethan Crumbley, who was 15 years old at the time of the shooting, had exhibited clear signs of mental distress. He wrote in his journal about his struggles, stating, "I want help but my parents don't listen to me so I can’t get any help."
The defense argued the couple had already spent nearly 2.5 years in jail and had no prior knowledge of their son's intentions, but the court rejected these arguments.
Ethan Crumbley, now serving a life sentence, had previously written about his deteriorating mental state, noting that his parents ignored his pleas for help. The case marks a significant step in holding parents criminally accountable for their children's actions involving firearms.
Victims' families want accountability
In the aftermath of the trials, the victims' families have demanded further accountability. They are seeking changes to governmental immunity laws that protect schools from being sued and want to see a requirement for independent reviews after any mass shooting.
Oakland County prosecutors have said they do not plan to charge anyone else in connection with the massacre.
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