Ethan Crumbley: Parents of Oxford school shooter James and Jennifer Crumbley can face trial for involuntary manslaughter
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers' discretion advised
OXFORD, MICHIGAN: In a groundbreaking decision, the state appeals court has ruled that the parents of a teenager who killed four students at a Michigan high school can face trial for involuntary manslaughter. The ruling comes as a result of James and Jennifer Crumbley's failure to secure a gun and address the mental health needs of their son, Ethan Crumbley, before the shootings in November 2021.
According to a report by the San Diego Union-Tribune, the court noted that the murders would not have happened if the parents hadn’t purchased a gun for their son or if they had taken him home from Oxford High School on the day of the shooting when staff became alarmed about his extreme drawings. The court’s decision has sparked controversy as attorneys for the parents insist that bad decisions were made but not ones that should rise to criminal charges.
READ MORE
Ethan Crumbley was 16 years old at the time of shooting
The court noted that the legal threshold at this case stage is pretty low under Michigan law. However, “Whether a jury actually finds that causation has been proven after a full trial where the record will almost surely be more expansive — including evidence produced by defendants — is an issue separate from what we decide today,” the court said in a 3-0 opinion.
Ethan Crumbley, who was 16 years old at the time of the shootings, has already pleaded guilty to terrorism and murder charges and could be sentenced to life in prison without parole. A report by MEAWW reveals a new timeline that shows Crumbley spent more time hunting his victims than previously thought. The tragedy at Oxford High School resulted in the deaths of four students and injured seven others. The case has been closely watched as an unprecedented test of criminal responsibility for the acts of a child.
Significant step towards holding parents accountable for their children’s actions'
The decision to charge the parents with involuntary manslaughter is a significant step towards holding parents accountable for their children’s actions, particularly in cases where firearms are involved. "The Michigan case could set a legal precedent for other states grappling with how to hold parents accountable for their children’s actions, an issue that has come to the forefront in recent years amid a spate of school shootings and other violent incidents," it was said.