Parents of School Shooter Lose Appeal and Will Face Trial

The Michigan Supreme Court has rejected an appeal, giving the go-ahead for the parents of a teenager who carried out a shooting at Oxford High School, resulting in the deaths of four students, to stand trial on charges of involuntary manslaughter. James and Jennifer Crumbley have been accused of providing a gun to Ethan Crumbley and neglecting his mental health needs. The state appeals court previously ruled that the couple could face trial, and the Supreme Court has upheld that decision. The shooting, which took place in November 2021, claimed the lives of Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, Hana St. Juliana, and Justin Shilling, and left several others injured.

Ethan Crumbley, who pleaded guilty to terrorism and murder, may face life in prison without parole. The parents’ attorneys argue that the school shooting was not predictable. While they acknowledge that poor decisions were made, they believe these decisions do not warrant charges of involuntary manslaughter. On the day of the shooting, the teen and his parents met with school staff after a teacher noticed his violent drawings. However, nobody checked his backpack for a gun and he was allowed to remain in school.

The 17-year-old shooter, who was 15 at the time of the incident, will be sentenced on December 8. The judge may impose a prison sentence that could allow for parole in the future. Colin King, a psychologist who has examined the teenager, described him as a “feral child” who was neglected by his parents. Judge Kwame Rowe stated that while the teen’s home life was not ideal, with frequent alcohol consumption and arguments between his parents, it was not necessarily terrible. According to Rowe, the teen had a seemingly loving and supportive family, with family vacations, pets, and visits from relatives. In the shooter’s own words, he described his childhood as “good.”