On November 30, 2021, then 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley opened fire at Oxford High School in Michigan. He killed four students and injured seven others as well as a teacher. In 2022, he pleaded guilty to two dozen charges and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. In an unprecedented move, his parents, Jennifer and James Crumbley were also charged for their son’s crimes.
Jennifer and James are being tried separately. Jennifer’s trial began jury selection on January 23, 2024. Court documents show that Jennifer’s legal team is requesting that Ethan, now 17, be forced to testify on his mother’s behalf.
Shannon Smith, Jennifer’s lawyer, made the request to Sixth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Cheryl Matthews. This was not her only ask. She also requested that Ethan’s psychiatrists testify.
Ethan’s legal team from the State Appellate Defender Office do not want this to happen. They are actively appealing Ethan’s sentencing. They do not want him involved in his mother's or father's cases. "We will advise Ethan to invoke his right to remain silent," Jacqueline Ouvry and Alison Swain, Ethan’s lawyers, wrote in court documents.
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Jennifer and James face four charges of manslaughter each. They have been held in custody since late 2021. James’ trial is set to begin in March.
Prosecutors argue that James and Jennifer did not properly secure the guy Ethan used to commit his crimes. They gave it to him for Christmas. The prosecution also alleges that James and Jennifer ignored warning signs about Ethan’s violent tendencies.
James bought Ethan the 9mm handgun four days before the shooting. The following day, Jennifer took Ethan to a shooting range. A day before the shooting, a teacher caught Ethan looking up ammunition on his phone and alerted school officials. The school attempted to contact James and Jennifer but they did not return their calls. Instead, Jennifer sent her son a text message stating: "LOL, I'm not mad at you. You have to learn not to get caught."
Concerning drawings created by Ethan were found by a teacher on the morning of the shooting. The pictures showed a bleeding person, a handgun, and a bullet. Ethan wrote "blood everywhere," "My life is useless," and "The thoughts won't stop – help me" on the same paper. James and Jennifer were called to the school, told he needed counseling, and asked to take him home. They refused and did not search his backpack.
Nick Suplina, a senior vice president at the nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety, believes this is an important case that will set a precedent for parents everywhere. "This tragedy could have been prevented if the shooter's parents hadn't played a central role in acquiring the gun for the shooter, or if his parents had taken basic steps to securely store the gun," he stated. "They should be held accountable."
