PONTIAC, Mich. — A jury on Thursday convicted James Crumbley of involuntary manslaughter in connection with his teenage son’s deadly school shooting in 2021, in step with his wife, who was found guilty last month on the same charge.
The jury’s decision after about 10 hours of deliberations caps a landmark case that for the first time in the U.S. held the parents of a mass school shooter criminally responsible. James and Jennifer Crumbley’s son, Ethan, who was 15 when he opened fire at Oxford High School in suburban Detroit, pleaded guilty as an adult and was sentenced in December to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
During closing arguments Wednesday, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said the deaths were “preventable and foreseeable” if Crumbley had done any number of “tragically small efforts,” and she attempted to undercut the defense by telling jurors that parents can be responsible gun owners no matter if their child is planning a mass shooting. Still, McDonald said, the trial is unusual, and the circumstances surrounding it are what led prosecutors to build a case of involuntary manslaughter.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Watch Live: Closing arguments begin in trial of James Crumbley, father of Oxford High School shooterClosing arguments begin Wednesday afternoon in the trial of James Crumbley.
Read more »
Jury begins deliberations in trial of James Crumbley, father of Oxford High School shooterClosing arguments were delivered Wednesday afternoon in the trial of James Crumbley.
Read more »
James Crumbley, father of Oxford High School shooter, found guilty of involuntary manslaughterA jury has found James Crumbley, the father of the Oxford High School shooter, guilty of all four counts of involuntary manslaughter.
Read more »
Crumbley trial: Forensic analyst details movements of MI school shooter's father day of shootingUsing cell phone data, forensic analyst Edward Wagrowski outlined James Crumbley's actions leading up to the school shooting during testimony Thursday.
Read more »
James Crumbley has jail communication privileges restricted after 'threatening statements'Selina Guevara is an NBC News associate producer, based in Chicago.
Read more »
Prosecutors say James Crumbley made threats from prison, judge limits his communicationsHe faces four counts of involuntary manslaughter in his son's school shooting.
Read more »