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)

published 10 April 2024

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.

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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.