On Tuesday, the parents of a mass shooter at the Oxford High School shooting in Michigan were sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter. This marks the first time parents have been charged and convicted in connection to their child’s mass shooting at a school in the United States.
The tragic incident occurred on Nov. 30, 2021, when 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley carried out a violent attack inside his school, resulting in the deaths of four students and injuries to 7 others. Following days of pursuit by law enforcement, his parents, Jennifer and James Crumbley, were apprehended.
In separate trials held in February and March, Jennifer and James Crumbley were each convicted of four counts of involuntary manslaughter for the deaths caused by their son. Ethan, now 17, admitted guilt as an adult and has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the 2021 school shooting.
Prior to delivering the sentencing, Judge Cheryl Matthews of the Circuit Court emphasized that the convictions were not a reflection of inadequate parenting but rather a result of the repeated actions or inactions of the Crumbleys, as reported by local media.
Guidelines provided the parameters for the potential sentences the Crumbleys could face, taking into consideration their previous criminal history and the specific circumstances surrounding the offense.
Prosecutors asserted that Jennifer and James were severely negligent in handling the situation, disregarding signs of their son’s deteriorating mental state and failing to disclose the presence of guns in their home during a meeting with school officials on the morning of the shooting, where concerns about Ethan’s disturbing drawing were discussed.
Furthermore, prosecutors argued that the Crumbleys were accountable for the tragedy due to their failure to secure the firearms within their household, which ultimately played a significant role in enabling the shooting to occur.
Prosecutors requested a sentencing of 10 to 15 years in prison, underlining the couple’s perceived lack of remorse throughout the legal proceedings.
