New York: In a first-of-its-kind verdict, the parents of a teenaged student shooter were sentenced to at least 10 years in prison for failing to take steps that could have prevented the killing of four students in 2021.
In a mass school shooting incident on November 30, 2021, Ethan Crumbley used a handgun to fire randomly, resulting in the death of four students while seven people were wounded.
His parents, Jennifer and James Crumbley, were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter after prosecutors presented evidence of an unsecured gun at home and indifference toward the teenager’s mental health, reported AP.
Ethan, who studied at Oxford High School in Michigan, drew dark images of a gun, a bullet and a wounded man in a maths assignment, accompanied by despondent phrases. School staff did not order him to go home but were surprised when his parents didn’t volunteer it during a meeting.
Later that day, Ethan, then 15 years old, pulled a handgun from his backpack and began shooting in school.
Now 17, Ethan is serving a life sentence for murder and other crimes.
Family members of the students killed in the shooting asked the judge at Oakland County court to sentence the parents to 10 years, describing them as failures whose selfishness led to four deaths and a community tragedy.
“The blood of our children is on your hands, too,” said Craig Shilling, wearing a hoodie with the image of son Justin Shilling on his chest.
The Crumbleys, who had separate trials in Oakland County court, attended a meeting at the school that lasted less than 15 minutes. They didn’t mention that the gun resembled one that 47-year-old James had purchased just four days earlier — a Sig Sauer 9 mm that Ethan described on social media as his “beauty.”
Ethan’s parents chose to return to work, instead of taking him home. School staff said Ethan could stay on campus, with a counsellor opining that it would be safer for the boy than possibly being alone at home.
Unfortunately, no one checked Ethan’s backpack. A routine check would have revealed the presence of the gun and prevented the terrible tragedy.
