New York, USA – Prosecutors in the trial of James Crumbley, the father of the Michigan teenager responsible for a tragic mass shooting at Oxford High School, have accused him of negligence for disregarding his son’s mental health issues and buying him a gun.
Charged with involuntary manslaughter, Crumbley’s trial centers around the events leading up to the shooting, where his son killed four students. During opening statements, his defense argued that he had no prior knowledge of his son’s intentions.
His wife, Jennifer Crumbley, was previously convicted of manslaughter in connection to the same incident. While James Crumbley pleaded not guilty to the charges, prosecutors highlighted his alleged missed opportunities to intervene and prevent the shooting.
The case represents a groundbreaking legal precedent, as it marks the first instance where parents are held accountable for their child’s role in a shooting. The couple’s son, Ethan, who carried out the deadly attack, is serving a life sentence in prison without parole.
Throughout the trial, prosecutors have presented evidence suggesting that the Crumbleys failed to take necessary actions despite warnings from school officials about their son’s troubling behavior. Witnesses testified to the parents’ apparent inaction, including allegations that they provided their son with a gun and did not secure it properly.
Additionally, text messages between the couple revealed conversations about their son’s mental health, with one message from James dismissing concerns. Prosecutors also shared a concerning text from Ethan to a friend where he mentioned accessing the gun left out by his father.
Amid emotional testimonies from witnesses, including a teacher injured in the shooting, the prosecution painted a picture of a foreseeable tragedy that could have been prevented. If convicted, James Crumbley faces a potential 60-year prison sentence, similar to his wife’s potential sentence after her manslaughter conviction.