The jury exited the Michigan courtroom on Wednesday afternoon to commence their deliberations on whether James Crumbley, the father of the school shooter, is guilty of involuntary manslaughter. It is alleged that he failed to properly secure the firearm that his son utilized.
Crumbley, 47, is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter, along with allegations of negligence in securing the gun his son Ethan used and failing to address his son’s mental distress.
According to the AP, as news of the shooting started to circulate, Crumbley immediately dialed 911 in a state of panic. He informed the authorities that the gun he had bought just four days ago was now missing, and expressed his belief that his son could potentially be the shooter.
According to McDonald, there were 1,800 students enrolled at Oxford High School. He pointed out that there was a concerned parent named James Crumbley who suspected his son of being a potential school shooter. McDonald emphasized that this situation demonstrated foreseeability.
In earlier court documents, it was portrayed that the Crumbley household was filled with turmoil, with Ethan Crumbley frequently left to fend for himself while his parents reportedly engaged in drinking or arguments.
Defense attorney Mariell Lehman argued that Crumbley was unaware of his son’s knowledge of the gun’s location. She highlighted the fact that school staff did not perceive the teenager as an imminent danger to others.
Jennifer Crumbley was found guilty of four counts of involuntary manslaughter by a jury in February. In December, her son Ethan Crumbley, who is now 17, was sentenced to multiple life sentences without parole.
According to the AP, the Crumbleys have made history as the first parents in the United States to face criminal charges for their role in a mass school shooting.
