In a rare case involving parents being charged in connection to their child's mass shooting, the trial for Jennifer Crumbley, the mother of Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbley, has commenced. Jennifer Crumbley pleaded not guilty to four counts of involuntary manslaughter, as jury selection began on Monday.

The horrifying attack took place in November 2021 at Oxford High School, leaving four students dead and seven others injured. Ethan Crumbley, who was 15 years old at the time, was subsequently sentenced to life without parole after pleading guilty to 24 charges, including first-degree premeditated murder and terrorism causing death.

Jennifer Crumbley and her husband, James Crumbley, have both been charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the attack. The couple pleaded not guilty to the charges in December 2021 and had to be apprehended in Detroit following an extensive search when they failed to turn themselves in for their scheduled arraignment.

While the trial for Jennifer Crumbley has begun, James Crumbley's trial is set to begin on March 5, according to court records. Last year, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that the Crumbleys could stand trial separately for their alleged involvement in the shooting.

Prosecutors allege that Jennifer and James Crumbley allowed Ethan access to the gun used in the shooting and failed to recognize the warning signs leading up to the tragic event. In the days preceding the shooting, a teacher reportedly witnessed Ethan researching ammunition in class, and the school reached out to his parents, who did not respond.

Furthermore, prosecutors claim that Jennifer Crumbley even texted her son, stating, "lol, I'm not mad at you, you have to learn not to get caught," according to court proceedings. Just hours before the shooting, a teacher found a disturbing note on Ethan's desk depicting a handgun with the words, "The thoughts won't stop, help me" and "Blood everywhere."

According to the prosecution, the Crumbleys were called to the school over this incident, promised to seek counseling for their son, but failed to remove him from the premises. It was also revealed during Ethan's plea hearing in October 2022 that he had asked his father to purchase a specific gun for him, to which his father obliged, neglecting to keep the weapon securely locked away.

In October, the Michigan Supreme Court denied an appeal filed on behalf of the Crumbleys, who claimed that there was insufficient evidence for them to stand trial. Now, as Jennifer Crumbley's trial unfolds, the legal proceedings will shed further light on the extent of the parents' alleged involvement in the tragic school shooting.