Parents of Michigan school shooter sentenced to at least 10 years
James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of a US school shooter, have been sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison.
They are the first parents of a US school shooter to be convicted.
Their son, Ethan Crumbley was 15 when he killed four students with a semi-automatic handgun at Oxford High School. Seven others were wounded in the shooting.
He is now serving life in prison without parole.
Parents of Michigan shooter sentenced – video
A Michigan jury is deciding if the father of a convicted school gunman should also go to prison for the deadly shooting.
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) March 14, 2024
James Crumbley is charged with involuntary manslaughter. His wife, Jennifer Crumbley, was convicted of similar charges at a separate trial last month. pic.twitter.com/kssWb0Y3Ya
Both parents expressed regret about their son’s attack, and despite a seven-year sentence being recommended, prosecutors asked for more. The sentence was extended “to act as a deterrent” and reflected the parents’ failure to stop the attack.
The landmark case saw both parents, in separate trials, found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
Prosecutors say the parents dismissed clear signs that their son’s mental health has deteriorated and noted the parents bought Ethan the gun he used in the 2021 attack.
“They [parents] are not expected to be psychic. But these convictions are not about poor parenting. They concern acts that could have halted a runaway train,” Judge Cheryl Matthews told the court.
“Opportunity knocked over and over again, louder and louder, and it was ignored.”
They will both be eligible for parole after they serve 10 years in prison but cannot be held for more than 15 if they are denied parole.
