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https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/06/us/jennifer-crumbley-oxford-shooting-trial/index.html

Jennifer Crumbley, the mother of the teenager who killed four students at an Oxford, Michigan, high school in 2021, was found guilty Tuesday of all four counts of involuntary manslaughter in a novel legal case that stood as a test of the limits of whos responsible for a school shooting. The jury of 12 deliberated for more than 10 hours. Jennifer Crumbley looked down at her clasped hands as the verdict was read. She was taken from the courtroom in shackles. Crumbley, 45, had pleaded not guilty to the charges in the November 30, 2021, mass shooting at Oxford High School, in which her son killed four students and wounded six students and a teacher. She faces up to 15 years in prison, and her sentencing hearing was set for April 9. She has been behind bars since her arrest in a Detroit warehouse days after the shooting. The prosecutions case relied on an unusual and novel legal strategy and represented an attempt to expand the scope of blame in mass shootings. While parents have previously faced liability for their childs actions such as with neglect or firearms charges this was the first time a parent of a school shooter was held directly responsible for the killings.

It was a long time coming, but its definitely a step towards accountability that weve been talking about, Craig Shilling, the father of 17-year-old shooting victim Justin Shilling, told CNN affiliate WXYZ. Its kind of been our goal the whole time. Crumbleys husband, James, is scheduled to go on trial on the same charges in early March. Jennifer Crumbleys defense and the prosecution were barred from speaking publicly about her case until the end of James Crumbleys trial. Their son Ethan pleaded guilty to one count of terrorism causing death, four counts of murder and 19 other charges related to the deadly rampage. He was sentenced last year to life in prison without parole. He did not testify in this trial, as his attorneys said he would invoke his Fifth Amendment right to silence. The prosecution argued Jennifer Crumbley is responsible for the deaths because she was grossly negligent in giving a gun to her son Ethan, who was 15 at the time, and failing to get him proper mental health treatment despite warning signs. Over a week of testimony, law enforcement officials, school employees, shooting victims and those who knew Jennifer Crumbley testified for the prosecution. Its a rare case that takes some really egregious facts, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said in closing arguments Friday. It takes the unthinkable, and she has done the unthinkable, and because of that, four kids have died. However, the defense argued the blame lay elsewhere: on her husband for improperly securing the firearm; on the school for failing to notify her about her sons behavioral issues; and on Ethan himself, who planned and carried out the attack on his own. Defense attorney Shannon Smith said the case was dangerous for parents everywhere. Can every parent really be responsible for everything their children do, especially when its not foreseeable? Smith said in closing arguments.