Parents of school shooter sentenced to 10-15 years

Jennifer and James Crumbley at sentencing — The groundbreaking case was "about inactions," not actions

(Image credit: Bill Pugliano / Getty Images)

What happened

James and Jennifer Crumbley, whose teenage son killed four students in a 2021 school shooting in Oxford, Michigan, were sentenced Tuesday to 10 to 15 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter. They are the first parents held directly responsible for a school shooting carried out by their child.

Who said what

"Parents are not expected to be psychic," said Judge Cheryl Matthews. "But these convictions are not about poor parenting. These convictions confirm repeated acts, or lack of acts, that could have halted an oncoming runaway train — repeatedly ignoring things that would make a reasonable person feel the hair on the back of her neck stand up."

The commentary

This groundbreaking case was unique because it was "about inactions," not actions, former U.S. attorney Matthew Schneider told The New York Times. "This is a shot across the bow to all parents, to all people who have firearms in their house, to keep them locked up."

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What next?

The Crumbleys are expected to appeal. Ethan Crumbley, now 17, is serving a life sentence after pleading guilty.

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.