Conviction of School Shooter’s Mother Sets a Key Precedent
On February 6th, a Michigan jury found Jennifer Crumbley guilty of involuntary manslaughter for her role in the 2021 Oxford High School shooting. Her son, age 15, killed four classmates and injured seven others with a gun purchased for him by Ms. Crumbley and her husband, who faces the same charges in a trial that begins in March.
The verdict is unprecedented, marking the first time a parent has been criminally convicted for failing to prevent a mass shooting carried out by a child in their custody. That said, the degree to which Ms. Crumbley and her husband ignored highly visible red flags and warning signs is equally stunning.
Not only did the Crumbleys purchase the weapon for their son, but they failed to secure it properly in a locked case, according to his testimony. They also showed little regard for the danger it posed. For example, Ms. Crumbley texted her son, “LOL I’m not mad, you have to learn not to get caught,” upon learning he had been found searching online for ammunition while at........
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