School shooter Ethan Crumbley’s parents have both been sentenced to at least 10 years in prison.
In November 2021, then 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley killed four students and injured seven other people at Oxford High School in Michigan using a semi-automatic handgun his father bought him just days before.
For the first time in US history, parents Jennifer and James Crumbley were also charged with crimes that were attributed to their son, Ethan and earlier today (9 April) the pair were each sentenced to at least 10 years in prison.
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Using the 9mm gun purchased by his father, Ethan took the lives of four students – Madisyn Baldwin, 17, Justin Shilling, 17, Tate Myre, 16 and 14-year-old Hana St. Juliana – and injured six other students and one teacher.
The now 17-year-old was sentenced in December to life in prison without parole after pleading guilty to all 24 charges against him.
His parents were later charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter with prosecutors arguing they didn’t safely store the gun and failed to notice Ethan was exhibiting signs of being a potential threat to society.
Ethan Crumbley killed four students and injured seven others on 30 November, 2021. (Emily Elconin/ Getty Images)
At Ethan’s father James’ trial, prosecutor Karen McDonald revealed a cable lock had been found at the Crumbley family’s home which would’ve taken ‘ten seconds of the easiest, simplest thing’ to secure the weapon.
A drawing the teenager did on one of his math’s assignments also showed a gun, bullet and gunshot victim alongside the words: “The thoughts won’t stop. Help me. My life is useless. Blood everywhere.”
Ethan had told a counsellor the drawing was a result of his passion for creating video games, but the drawing of the gun was pointed out as resembling the 9mm handgun bought by James.
Prosecutors sought at least 10 years in prison for each of the parents who had separate trials in Oakland County court.
During her trial Jennifer Crumbley said she wished her son had killed her and his dad instead. (Getty Images/ Bill Pugliano)
During her trial, Ethan’s mom Jennifer testified it was James who bought Ethan the gun, however she noted she didn’t object to the weapon being bought.
James’ lawyer Mariell Lehman argued the father ‘did not believe that there was reason to be concerned that his son was a threat to anyone’.
Jennifer’s attorney Shannon Smith tried to convince the judge the mom was ‘not a threat to the community’ and that putting her in prison ‘does nothing to further deter others from committing like offences’, adding Jennifer made mistakes of ‘gross negligence’ that ‘any parents could make’.
Jennifer said herself: “I have asked myself if I would have done anything differently. I wouldn’t have. I wish he would have killed us instead.”
Jennifer and James each received at least 10 years in prison. (Getty Images/ Bill Pugliano)
However, earlier today, both parents were handed sentences of at least 10 years in prison each.
They will both be eligible for parole after those 10 years and if the parole is denied, they cannot be held longer than 15 years.