In A First, Parents Of School Shooter Sentenced To Prison: Case Details

Jennifer and James Crumbley, the parents of a teen accused of a fatal 2021 school shooting in Michigan, were each sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison. 17-year-old Ethan Crumbley's parents are the first US guardians convicted of a mass shooting carried out by their child. In February 2024, Jennifer (45) and James (47) were found guilty of manslaughter and prosecutors stated that they allowed their son to have a gun and neglected warning signs. They had already been in prison for the last two years. Their son Ethan is serving a life sentence for the murder of four students of Oxford High School, while his mother gave statements in her recent testimony. 

The shooting at the Michigan school on November 30, 2021, sent shockwaves worldwide, refocusing attention on gun laws in the United States. Two girls and two boys died while six students and a teacher were hurt after Ethan allegedly fired a gun around 1 PM, shooting 30 shots. James, who had earlier pleaded not guilty, apologised to the victims during the court hearing on April 9.

Crumbleys' Prosecution

According to CNN, the prosecutor in Oakland County, who announced the charges against the shooter's parents said in the June 2023 trial, "I want to be clear that these charges are intended to hold the individuals who contributed to this tragedy accountable and also send a message that gun owners have a responsibility."

Reports suggest the Crumbleys bought their son a 9mm SIG Sauer Handgun purchased by the father, with Ethan by his side, on Black Friday in 2021. Jennifer during her June 2023 trial said it was a "Christmas gift" and testified that James bought the gun for 'shooting ranges only.' She said, "I’ve asked myself if I would have done anything differently, and I wouldn’t have.” 

Crumbley said, "As a parent, you spend your whole life trying to protect your child from other dangers. You never would think you have to protect your child from harming somebody else. That was the hardest thing I had to stomach, that my child hurt other people," she said. "I wish he would have killed us instead."

Now, after the April 9 conviction, she said in Court, that if she knew her son was capable of such horrific crimes, her answer would have "absolutely been different." Meanwhile, James Crumbley, who had earlier pleaded not guilty, asked the judge, "sentence me in a fair way," as he apologised to the victims.

Parents' Role In The Michigan Shooting Case

As per reports, on the day of the shooting, a shocking note was found on Ethan which showed gun violence images and text that read "the thoughts won't stop", alongside the words "help me" and "my life is useless." Jennifer and James Crumbley were called to the school and directed to get counselling for their son.

Jennifer reportedly messaged her son, "Ethan, don't do it" but the shooting had already occurred. On social media, netizens have dug out an old open letter written by Jennifer to former US President Donald Trump that thanked him for the right to bear arms, among other things.

"Mr Trump, I actually love that you are a bad public speaker... You made the famous ‘grab them in the pussy’ comment, did it offend me? No. I say things all the time that people take the wrong way..." the letter also read.

Jennifer Crumbley Held Sex Parties While Her Son Struggled?

The Court also held hearings about Jennifer Crumbley allegedly having an affair with a long-time friend Brian Meloche during the time her son carried out the school shooting. As per the reports, Brian, who is a firefighter chief, had "sex parties" at hotels using a swingers app called Adult Friends Finder to set meet-ups with others where Crumbley admitted using the app but claimed she used to visit the hotels only after work for "business."

Prosecutor Marc Keast stated to the jurors that Crumbley failed to do "tragically small and easy things" that could have prevented her son's actions and four lives. During his opening on Friday, Keast claimed that Crumbley was well aware of her son's mental "downfall spiral" and only she and her husband could have known about the danger their son posed along with him having access to a gun.