Jennifer Crumbley, whose son carried out the deadliest school shooting in Michigan history, is scheduled to go on trial Tuesday in an unusual case in which her parents are questioned over their role in the incident.
James Crumbley and Jennifer Crumbley are charged with manslaughter. Prosecutors accuse him of allowing his son, Ethan Crumbley, to possess a gun and ignoring his suspected mental health issues.
The gunman, who was 15 years old at the time, killed four students and injured seven others at Oxford High School in suburban Detroit on November 30, 2021. After pleading guilty to all charges, he received multiple life sentences without parole in December. Fee.
According to the Associated Press, the Crumbleys are the first parents to be charged in connection with a school shooting in the United States. The mother of the 6-year-old who shot and wounded a teacher was also recently sentenced to two years in prison for child neglect, according to the Associated Press.
Prosecutors say the parents ignored warning signs, while the defense argues the shooting was unforeseen and the parents shouldn't be held responsible.
Four days before the tragic incident, James Crumbley bought his son a gun, and his mother took him to a shooting range, posting a hilarious message on Instagram about the experience.
Prosecutors also said they allegedly overlooked several warning signs. The day before the shooting, the school told her mother that her son had been looking at ammunition on his cell phone. Hours before the shooting, his parents were called to school after their son drew a violent picture with the message, “Thinking never stops.” help me. “
The parents were reportedly told to enroll their son in counseling, but they refused to take their son home from school that day. They reportedly left 30 minutes later.
At his sentencing in December, Ethan Crumbley took full responsibility and expressed remorse for his actions. He described himself as a “really bad person” and said he couldn't help himself.
He also defended his parents' role as defendants in the lead-up to the shooting.
“They don't have any responsibility because they didn't know and I didn't tell them what I was going to do,” he said at the time, according to the Associated Press.
Jennifer Crumbley's trial was scheduled to begin Tuesday, with more than 200 people in Oakland County court for jury selection. Her parents were charged immediately after the shooting and have been held in prison without bail for more than two years.
James Crumbley's trial is scheduled for March.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.
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