On the 30th of November, 2021, 15-year-old Ethan Crumbleyentered Oxford High School in Oxford Township, Michigan. Armed with a handgun, Ethan killed four students and injured seven others, including a teacher. His parents are now paying the price for their son’s actions. In two separate trials on Tuesday, April 9th, 2024, Ethan’s parents, James and Jennifer Cumberly were each sentenced to 10 – 15 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter. This has never been seen before in all of the United State’s history.
Here’s what happened leading up to the Michigan school shooting. On November 26th, 2021, Ethan’s father, James Crumbley bought a 9-millimeter semi-automatic Sig Sauer handgun from Acme Shooting Goods, a gun store in Oxford. After his father purchased the firearm, Ethan would show suspicious activity. The day his father purchased the gun, Ethan took a photo of himself with the gun and posted it to Instagram with the caption “Just got my new beauty today. SIG SAUER 9mm. Any questions I will answer.” (AP News). 2 days later on November 29th, teachers discovered Ethan searching for ammunition on his cell phone in class. Faculty contacted Ethan’s mother but she said Ethan was in no trouble and a text sent later said “Lol. I’m not mad at you. You have to learn not to get caught” (AP News). That night, Ethan recorded a video of himself talking about his plan to kill students. On November 30th, disturbing drawings were discovered on a math paper belonging to Ethan. His parents met with school officials to discuss the drawings, but Ethan was not removed from school and his bag was not searched.
That same day, November 30th, 2021, Ethan used the 9mm Sig Sauer and opened fire on students and teachers. Ethan killed four students and injured seven others, including a teacher. Ethan surrendered to police without retaliation, and he was charged as an adult with murder and terrorism. 16-year-old Tate Myre, 17-year-old Madisyn Baldwin, and 14-year-old Hana St. Juliana were all killed within several hours of the shooting. 17-year-old Justin Shilling lived for another day before dying in a nearby hospital to his injuries. On October 24th, 2022, Ethan pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and terrorism. The judge sentenced Ethan to life in prison.
On December 3rd, 2021, James and Jennifer Crumbley were charged with involuntary manslaughter the crime of killing another human unintentionally, or indirectly, but authorities could not locate them and a search was launched. Both parents were found by authorities hiding in a studio with new phones, and $6,000 in cash. Both parents pleaded not guilty to the charges. After originally going to trial, both parents were separated for 3 years. Then in 2024, both parents’ trials were held. Judge Cheryl Mathews sentenced now 47-year-old James Crumbley and 46-year-old Jennifer one after another in their first appearance together since 2021. At the trial, prosecutors said that the parents never knew about Ethan’s plans. However, prosecutors claimed that the Crumbleys ignored very obvious signs of their son’s mental state and signs of his motives.
At the trial, it was decided that both parents would serve out their sentences in separate prisons. James Crumbley was sent to the Charles Egeler Reception and Guidance Center in Jackson Michigan. Jennifer Crumbley was sent to the all-female Huron Valley Correctional Facility in Ypsilanti. Ethan Crumbleywas sent to the Thumb Correctional Facility where he is serving out a life sentence. Jennifer and James will be released in 2036, and the judge who gave the two their sentences hopes
that the parents being sentenced will prevent future school shootings.
How will this groundbreaking trial affect future school shootings? Well, just like the judge said, she hopes the trial will prevent future school shootings. This is because now, it’s proven parents can be punished and tried for their children’s actions, so the judge and many others hope that this will deter potential shooters as their parents could be severely punished along with the child.