Father of Michigan School Shooter Convicted of Manslaughter
The Facts
James Crumbley, the father of the 15-year-old Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbley, has been convicted of manslaughter and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 9.
Ethan Crumbley killed four students and injured seven others at Oxford High School on Nov. 30, 2021, with a 9mm Sig Sauer handgun James bought him just days before the shooting.
The Spin
Narrative A
Ethan's father has been convicted not for what he did but for what he didn't do. Involuntary manslaughter charges against the Crumbleys could set the precedent that facilitators of a heinous crime — be it the parents of a mass shooter — will be held criminally liable. It's one more step towards holding everyone responsible under the law and dealing with gun violence, which has become an epidemic in the US. The case also serves as a wake-up call for parents to better secure weapons in their homes.
Narrative B
The prosecution's case lacked evidence and was based on assumptions and hindsight. There's no evidence to suggest that James Crumbley had any idea that his son was a threat or having a hard time. Moreover, prosecutors couldn't prove he was aware Ethan knew where to find the gun at home or could foresee that his son would carry out a mass shooting. "Punish the parents" laws have been tried many times throughout American history, none of which ultimately reduced crime. This verdict could return the country to those tragic and failed policies.
