Jennifer Crumbley Found Guilty of Negligence in Allowing Son Access to Gun in Landmark Case
In a landmark ruling, a jury has convicted Jennifer Crumbley, 45, of involuntary manslaughter for her role in the 2021 mass shooting carried out by her son, Ethan Crumbley, at Oxford High School in Michigan. This makes her the first US parent to be convicted of manslaughter in connection to a shooting carried out by their child.
Crumbley was found guilty of failing to prevent her 15-year-old son from obtaining a firearm, which he used to kill four students and injure seven others on November 30, 2021. Prosecutors argued that Crumbley was negligent by allowing Ethan to have access to the weapon and ignoring the warning signs regarding his deteriorating mental health.
In a separate trial, Ethan’s father, James Crumbley, has pleaded not guilty to similar charges. Their son, now 17, is currently serving a life sentence in prison for the shooting.
The jury’s decision was described by the judge as likely one of the hardest they had ever faced. As the verdict was read in Oakland County court on Tuesday, Jennifer Crumbley stood with her head bowed.
Crumbley was convicted of four counts of involuntary manslaughter, each carrying a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. Some of the victims’ relatives expressed relief following the verdict. Buck Myre, the father of 16-year-old victim Tate Myre, stated, “The People spoke! You can agree or disagree with the people, but this is how the system is supposed to work.”
The shooting claimed the lives of Hana St Juliana (14), Tate Myre (16), Madisyn Baldwin, and Justin Shilling (17). In the court hearings, it was revealed that the Crumbleys had purchased the gun just days before the tragedy.
Jennifer Crumbley claimed that she had attempted to address her son’s mental health issues but had been met with resistance. Furthermore, an independent investigation conducted last year highlighted numerous failures by the school system, including allowing Ethan Crumbley to return to class after being flagged for unusual behaviour, without checking his backpack.
