A state appeals court has ruled that the parents of a boy who shot and killed four of his classmates at a Michigan high school should stand trial for manslaughter.
Ethan Crumbly, 16, pleaded guilty to terrorism and murder charges at Oxford High School in November 2021. His parents have been charged with four counts of manslaughter.
James and Jennifer Crumbley let their son easily obtain the gun and ignored the warning signs, prosecutors said.
On November 30, 2021, Ethan Crumbly, then 15 years old, opened fire with his father’s semi-automatic pistol, killing four students and injuring six students and a teacher in the small town of Oxford, Michigan.
Prosecutors noted that James and Jennifer Crumbly ignored their son’s depression and the minor’s “fascination” with guns. According to Judge Christopher Murray, the parents were “actively involved” in the “failure to remedy the mental condition” of the minor.
On the day of the shooting, school officials met with Ethan’s parents.when they found sketches drawn by their son, which depicted weapons with the words: “Thoughts will never stop helping me.” The school authorities asked the parents to arrange for professional help and counseling within 48 hours, to which they agreed, but refused to return the child home. The juvenile broke into the classroom with a gun he found in an unlocked storage room at the home, prosecutors said, and carried it in a backpack, prosecutors said.
Ethan Crumbly faces life in prison without parole.
A 2019 U.S. Department of Homeland Security report states that in 76% of school shootings, the perpetrator obtains the lethal weapon at the home of a parent or other close relative.. However, there are several cases where parents or other relatives are accused of juvenile delinquency.
Karen McDonald, the Michigan District Attorney who filed charges against Crumbley shortly after the shooting, told The New York Times in 2021 that the indictment decision represents “an entirely new approach to school shootings,” hoping it would help prevent murders. .
Source: BBC
Source: Kathimerini
Anna White is a journalist at 247 News Reel, where she writes on world news and current events. She is known for her insightful analysis and compelling storytelling. Anna’s articles have been widely read and shared, earning her a reputation as a talented and respected journalist. She delivers in-depth and accurate understanding of the world’s most pressing issues.