Pontiac, Michigan – During a recent five-day trial, prosecutors presented evidence that a newly acquired Sig Sauer 9 mm gun was not securely stored at the Crumbley home. While Michigan did not have a storage law at the time, prosecutor Karen McDonald argued that James Crumbley had a legal obligation to protect others from potential harm by his son.
McDonald emphasized that the case was not solely about access to a gun but also about the mental state of Ethan Crumbley. On the day of the shooting, Ethan exhibited concerning behavior by creating a disturbing drawing on a math assignment, indicating his distress and thoughts of violence. Despite these warning signs, the parents chose not to take Ethan home after a brief school meeting, failing to disclose that a similar handgun to the one in the drawing had been recently purchased.
Tragically, Ethan later retrieved the gun from his backpack and opened fire at Oxford High School. This incident led to the deaths of four students – Justin Shilling, Madisyn Baldwin, Hana St. Juliana, and Tate Myre. James and Jennifer Crumbley became the first parents in the United States to face charges for the responsibility of a mass school shooting by their child, with Jennifer already being convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
Throughout the trial, it was revealed that Ethan had expressed a need for mental health support in his journal, indicating his parents’ lack of response to his cries for help. In her closing statements, defense attorney Mariell Lehman argued that James Crumbley was unaware that Ethan knew the gun’s location at home, casting doubt on the parents’ knowledge of the situation.
Despite the defense’s claims, McDonald demonstrated how easily a gun lock could have been used to prevent the tragedy, highlighting the negligence in securing the weapon. Now serving a life sentence for murder and terrorism, Ethan Crumbley’s actions have left a lasting impact on the community, prompting a closer examination of gun safety and mental health awareness.