The parents of a Michigan school shooter asked a judge to keep them out of prison as they faced sentencing for their role in a deadly school shooting carried out by their son.
Jennifer and James Crumbley appeared in court Tuesday. They are the first parents convicted in a mass school shooting in the United States.
They were convicted of involuntary manslaughter in separate cases. They were accused of neglecting to secure a gun at home and failing to address the clear signs of their child's mental distress.
Ethan Crumbley killed four students at Oxford High School in 2021.
Prosectors say they could have prevented the shooting by removing the 15-year-old from school when confronted with his disturbing drawing on his math assignment shortly before the shooting.
During the trial, prosecutors also emphasized the fact that the teenager had access to a Sig Sauer 9 mm handgun that was bought by James Crumbley just four days prior.
Prosecutors were seeking 10-15 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter. They claimed the parents have shown no remorse.
Lawyers for the parents said the more than two years they have already spent behind bars was long enough.
The judge disagreed and sentenced both to 10-15 years in prison.
Ethan Crumbley, now 17, pleaded guilty and is serving a life sentence.
