Mother of Michigan school shooter convicted of involuntary manslaughter

A Michigan mother, Jennifer Crumbley, has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in connection with her son's deadly school shooting. This marks the first time a parent in the US has been convicted of manslaughter over a mass shooting committed by their child. Prosecutors alleged that Crumbley was negligent in allowing her son to have a gun and disregarded warning signs. Her husband, James, is also facing trial on the same charges. Their son, who is now 17 years old, is serving a life sentence for the murder of four of his classmates at Oxford High School in Michigan in November 2021. The judge acknowledged the difficulty of the case for the jurors, stating that it was likely the most challenging task they had ever faced. As the verdict was read, Crumbley appeared emotionless and looked down without any visible reaction. She faced four counts of involuntary manslaughter, with a potential maximum sentence of 15 years for each count. Seven others were injured in the shooting. The central question of the trial revolved around whether the mother could have anticipated and prevented the tragic crime. It was revealed that Crumbley and her husband purchased the gun their son used just days before the shooting. They were promptly arrested by the police, who had to search for them and eventually found them in an industrial building in Detroit. The couple has been held in a county jail without bail for over two years. During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that their son, Ethan Crumbley, had expressed a desire for mental health assistance and had complained of hallucinations. However, his parents allegedly did not take steps to provide him with treatment. Mrs. Crumbley testified that she did not believe her son had mental health issues. On the morning of the shooting, the parents left a school meeting prematurely regarding a disturbing drawing their son had created. They declined to take the 15-year-old home, and he returned to school with a gun in his backpack. This is an ongoing news story, and more details will be published soon. Please refresh the page for the most comprehensive version. To stay updated, you can receive breaking news on your smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App or follow @BBCBreaking on Twitter for the latest alerts.