- The Oxford School shooting suspect's parents have been charged with involuntary manslaughter
- The court cited factors, including the parents being called to the school to discuss a disturbing note about their son
- Authorities are saying that the Crumbleys could have stopped the horrific shooting
In a groundbreaking case of criminal liability for a child's actions, the state appeals court ruled Thursday that the parents of a juvenile who killed four pupils at a high school in Michigan can be tried for involuntary manslaughter.
The appeals court stated that the killings would not have occurred if Ethan Crumbley's parents had not acquired a weapon for him or if they had brought him home from Oxford High School on the day of the massacre when staff grew frightened about his radical drawings.
Ethan Crumbley's Parents Ordered to Stand Trial
According to Michigan law, the legal barrier at this point of the lawsuit is rather low. Before the shootings, James and Jennifer Crumbley are accused of neglecting to secure a firearm and disregarding their son's mental health needs. In addition to the four student deaths, seven persons were injured.
Ethan Crumbley, 16, has pleaded guilty to terrorism and murder and faces a possible life sentence without parole. At the time of the November 2021 shooting, he was 15 years old, according to CBS News.
Lawyers representing the parents claim that the events of that day could not have been predicted. They accept that poor choices were made, but not ones that warrant accusations of involuntary manslaughter.
Judge Michael Riordan stated that parents should not be brought into court for "inadequate, strange, or quirky" child care. He noted that the evidence against the Crumbleys is far more severe. The court stated that it was "visual proof" that Ethan was considering shooting someone. The Crumbleys were called to school to discuss Ethan's drawing, but they did not bring him home.
The court stated that it was "visual evidence" that Ethan Crumbley was considering shooting someone. The parents' attorneys declined to speak on Thursday, citing a gag order. The Oxford School shooting suspect's parents will likely seek the Michigan Supreme Court to examine the matter, given that the high court already ordered the appeals court to hear arguments, as per ABC News.
Court Points on Oxford School Shooting Suspect Parent's Liability
The court of appeals also noted the slippery slope argument presented by the Crumbleys' attorneys, namely that this case might create a terrible precedent for all parents whose children commit mistakes. Yet this case has "special facts," the court noted, deciding that sufficient evidence exists to proceed to trial and determine whether the Crumbleys' claimed gross negligence contributed to the four fatalities.
The Crumbleys, who remain incarcerated in Oakland County and are expected to appeal the ruling to the Michigan Supreme Court, have maintained that they had no knowledge their son was planning a mass shooting and are not responsible for the killings.
However, the prosecutors claim that the parents were severely negligent since they allegedly ignored their problematic son for years. Instead of obtaining mental health assistance, they purchased him the murder weapon.
According to the appeals court, the parents were aware of both the original note with the blood and pistol and the altered message, but they chose to keep their son in school so they could return to work.
The court stated that within four minutes of leaving the school parking area, James Crumbley went onto DoorDash and accepted his first delivery assignment at 11 a.m. that day. That day at 12:21 p.m., Jennifer Crumbley texted her son at school to inquire about his well-being.
After delivering the message, Ethan Crumbley entered a restroom with his backpack, retrieved the revolver his parents had purchased, and opened fire. On that day, at 12:58 p.m., the firing ceased. According to testimony presented in court, the boy remained at school after a counselor determined he would be safer at school than at home alone.
Ethan Crumbley faces up to life in jail without the possibility of release, although his attorneys are contesting this sentence due to his age, as per USA Today.
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