In a historic ruling, the father of the Michigan school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. James Crumbley joins his wife, Jennifer Crumbley, as the cause of the tragic killing of four students at Oxford High School in 2021, despite not pulling the trigger himself. This landmark decision marks the first time U.S. parents have been charged in a mass school shooting committed by their own child.

The jury verdict comes after prosecutors focused on two crucial aspects during the trial. One was the parents' response to a disturbing drawing found on Ethan Crumbley's math assignment just hours before the shooting occurred. The other was the teenager's access to the Sig Sauer 9mm handgun purchased by James Crumbley merely four days prior to the incident.

Ethan's math assignment contained a chilling drawing depicting a gun and a wounded figure along with distressing phrases such as "The thoughts won't stop. Help me. My life is useless." Despite the alarming content, James and Jennifer Crumbley declined to take their son home following a brief meeting at the school. The staff also did not insist on taking immediate action. A counselor, who expressed concern over Ethan's suicidal ideations, requested the parents to seek help for their son within 48 hours.

It was revealed during the trial that Ethan had shared his sadness over the loss of his dog and grandmother, as well as a friend moving away abruptly. He claimed that the drawing was simply related to a video game and that he had no intention of committing violence. However, neither the teenager nor his parents informed school officials about the recently purchased gun.

Shawn Hopkins, a counselor who had hoped Ethan would spend the day with his parents, ultimately believed it would be safer for the teen to be at school with others. Unfortunately, Ethan pulled the Sig Sauer handgun from his backpack that same fateful day, leading to the tragic deaths of Justin Shilling, Madisyn Baldwin, Hana St. Juliana, and Tate Myre. Disturbingly, no one had checked Ethan's bag, even though a school administrator had made a light-hearted comment about its weight.

Prosecutor Karen McDonald emphasized that James Crumbley was being tried not for his son's actions but for his own actions and failures. She argued that he should not be excused simply because someone else physically pulled the trigger. Testifying counselor Shawn Hopkins mentioned that while James Crumbley showed empathy towards his son during the meeting about the drawing, he did not take any further action.

In the aftermath of the shooting, James Crumbley frantically called 911, expressing his suspicion that his son had taken the gun. Investigators later discovered an empty gun case and ammunition box on the parents' bed. The cable that could have secured the gun was still unopened in its package.

Defense attorney Mariell Lehman sought to highlight that James Crumbley had not given consent for his son to access the gun. She argued that he was unaware of the need to protect others from his son and had no knowledge of what his son was planning.

Notably, no mental health experts testified during the trial, and no records were presented. Ethan's lawyers had previously stated that he would invoke his right to remain silent if called to testify. However, excerpts from his handwritten journal were allowed as evidence, in which he expressed a lack of help for his mental problems and implied that it was pushing him towards committing violence.

James Crumbley's guilty verdict brings another layer of responsibility in the tragic Oxford High School shooting. The case has fueled discussions around parental accountability and the importance of addressing mental health concerns promptly. The sentencing phase of the trial will take place on a later date.