School shooter’s parents both convicted in precedent-setting legal action

A jury found James Crumbley guilty of involuntary manslaughter on Wednesday in connection with the deadly 2021 Oxford High School shooting.

The verdict comes weeks after his wife, Jennifer Crumbley, was convicted of the same charges for their son Ethan’s attack that left four students dead.

This case marks the first time in U.S. history that parents have been held criminally responsible for a mass shooting carried out by their child.

Prosecutors argued that the Crumbleys failed in their duty to prevent the tragedy by ignoring warning signs and not properly securing a gun readily accessible to Ethan.

James Crumbley, along with his wife, faced four counts of involuntary manslaughter – one for each student killed in the November 2021 rampage.

The prosecution pointed to the couple’s dismissal of disturbing behavior exhibited by Ethan, including drawings depicting violence and threats. Additionally, they highlighted the purchase of the murder weapon by James Crumbley just days before the shooting, despite his son’s concerning behavior.

The defense countered by arguing that James Crumbley was unaware of the extent of his son’s mental health issues and did not anticipate the violence. They claimed he simply followed his wife’s lead in handling the situation.

The jury ultimately sided with the prosecution, finding James Crumbley culpable in the tragedy. Sentencing is expected in the coming weeks.

With both parents now convicted, this case sets a precedent for potential future legal action against parents in similar situations.