PONTIAC, Mich. — The father of a teenager who carried out a deadly school shooting has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Oakland County, Michigan. James Crumbley’s son, Ethan, killed four students at Oxford High School in 2021. This verdict marks the end of trials for both parents, making them the first to face such charges for their child’s actions.
During the eight-day trial, the jury deliberated for nearly 11 hours before finding Crumbley guilty on all four counts of involuntary manslaughter. The trial lacked the drama seen in his wife Jennifer Crumbley’s trial, which ended with her own conviction last month.
Ethan, who was 15 years old at the time of the shooting, was sentenced to life without parole for the tragic events that claimed the lives of Hana St. Juliana, Tate Myre, Madisyn Baldwin, and Justin Shilling. He also injured seven others in the 2021 shooting. The shooter had been charged as an adult and pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including first-degree murder and terrorism.
James and Jennifer Crumbley faced identical charges but were tried separately. The case highlighted a new approach by prosecutors to hold parents accountable when a child commits a violent act. Sentencing for both parents is scheduled for April 9.
Prosecutor Karen McDonald’s prompt decision to charge the Crumbleys after the shooting set a precedent for cases like the deadly 2022 Fourth of July shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, where a father was charged for his role in allowing his son access to a gun.
Following the verdict, emotional calls for action to address gun violence and improve mental health support for children were made by McDonald and the families of the victims. The urgency to treat gun violence as a public health crisis was emphasized, with a plea for bipartisan action to ensure the safety of children in schools.
Gun-control advocates praised the guilty verdict, highlighting the importance of responsible gun ownership. Everytown for Gun Safety stressed the duty of parents to prevent children from accessing firearms, underscoring the need for preventive measures to avoid tragedies like the one at Oxford High School.
The prosecution’s case against James Crumbley focused on his role in providing a gun to a troubled teen and failing to take necessary precautions to prevent the shooting. Prosecutors pointed to warning signs that could have been addressed, highlighting missed opportunities to intervene before the tragic events unfolded.
The defense argued that the actions of the parents were based on assumptions and hindsight, stating that there was no evidence of deliberate negligence. They maintained that the school and other authorities shared responsibility in ensuring the safety of students.
As the trial concluded, the message was clear: the tragedy at Oxford High School could have been prevented with simple, preventive measures. The case serves as a sobering reminder of the need for vigilance and responsible gun ownership to protect our communities.