James and Jennifer Crumbley, parents of Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley, are facing sentencing for involuntary manslaughter charges related to the shooting that left four students dead and several others injured. This is the first time in U.S. history that parents of a school shooter are being tried for their child’s crimes, and prosecutors are seeking 10 to 15 years in prison for both parents. Ethan Crumbley, the shooter, has already been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
During their trials, both James and Jennifer declined to testify in their own defense. Jennifer initially stated that she would not have done anything differently leading up to the shooting, but later backtracked on her testimony and expressed regret, stating that she would have changed things if she had known what would happen. She acknowledged that she did not anticipate her son’s violent actions, believing him to be a quiet and good kid who loved his pets.
The Crumbleys have been accused of failing to prevent the shooting, as they had the opportunity to intervene when they arrived at the school to meet with counselors after Ethan’s disturbing notes were discovered. Instead, they left Ethan at school and returned to work, allowing him to carry out the shooting. Prosecutors have pointed to evidence such as Ethan’s journal entries, text messages, and videos where he expressed a desire for help that was ignored by his parents. After the shooting, the Crumbleys allegedly fled the area, but were later apprehended by U.S. Marshals.
Jennifer Crumbley had posted on social media about buying a handgun for her son as a Christmas gift just days before the shooting, further raising questions about the parents’ involvement in enabling Ethan’s actions. The trial has highlighted the issue of parental culpability in school shootings and has led to civil lawsuits against the Crumbleys and school administrators for failing to prevent the tragedy. Despite the historical nature of their case, the Crumbleys now face sentencing and possible prison time for their role in the tragic events at Oxford High School.
