A Michigan school shooter's father was convicted of involuntary manslaughter on Thursday, marking a second conviction for the teen's parents. They were accused of neglecting to secure a gun at home and failing to address the clear signs of their child's mental distress.
James Crumbley has now been involved in the tragic deaths of four students at Oxford High School in 2021, despite not being the one to physically carry out the act.
James Crumbley Convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter
"James Crumbley is not on trial for what his son did," Oakland County Prosecuting Attorney Karen McDonald said during closing arguments, according to CNN. "James Crumbley is on trial for what he did and what he didn't do."
As the first parents in the country to face charges in a tragic school shooting that their child carried out, they went through separate trials. Jennifer Crumbley was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in February.
The verdicts for the four victims were announced at approximately 7:15 p.m. after a full day of deliberations.
James Crumbley received updates on the trial's outcome through headphones due to a hearing issue. He shook his head in disbelief as the jury foreman delivered the verdict of "guilty." Both James and Jennifer Crumbley face up to 15 years in prison.
During the trial, prosecutors emphasized two main points: the parents' response to a disturbing drawing found on Ethan Crumbley's math assignment shortly before the shooting, and the fact that the teenager had access to a Sig Sauer 9 mm handgun that was bought by James Crumbley just four days prior.
Attorney Ven Johnson, who is representing the victims' families, released the following statement:
"Today, a 12-person jury unanimously found James Crumbley, the father of the Oxford High School shooter, guilty as charged for his gross negligence, which ultimately played a causal role in the deaths of four OHS students. This guilty verdict, along with those found against the shooter's mother, Jennifer Crumbley, won't bring back the lives of these four students, but it represents one more step towards holding everyone responsible accountable under the law, which is justice for the victims' families and the Oxford community.
"We are eager for the decisions of both the Michigan Court of Appeals and the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in our civil lawsuits. We are resolute in our determination to hold Oxford Community Schools and various OCS employees accountable, as they could have prevented the shooting, as indicated in their own district's Guidepost Solutions investigative report. Until everyone responsible for this tragedy is fully and legally held accountable for their role, our clients and our firm remain steadfast in our fight for justice."
This is a developing story.
