(NewsNation) — The mother of a teenager who committed a school shooting in Michigan is headed to trial in a case that marks the first time parents of a school shooter have faced criminal charges in a school shooting.
Jennifer and James Crumbley are not accused of knowing their son planned to kill fellow students at Oxford High School in 2021. But prosecutors said they made a gun accessible to their son, Ethan Crumbley.
Jury selection started Tuesday in Jennifer Crumbley’s trial in Oakland County court, 40 miles north of Detroit. James Crumbley will face a separate trial on March 5. In December, Ethan was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to murder, terrorism and other crimes.
More than 300 people were called in to begin the jury selection process for this trial.
If convicted of involuntary manslaughter, the Crumbleys’ cases could set a precedent, potentially leading to prison time for other parents and guardians of shooters who fail to intervene.
The prosecution argue the Crumbleys bear partial responsibility, having provided a gun for Ethan Crumbley’s unrestricted use. They allege the parents ignored their son’s pleas for help with his mental health and refused to take him home on the day of the shooting, despite the discovery of a troubling math sheet with drawings of guns, deceased victims, and distressing words: “Blood everywhere” and “Thoughts won’t stop. Help me.”
Shannon Smith, a defense attorney, will argue the shooting that killed four students and injured seven others was a tragedy but not foreseeable by the parents.
NewsNation spoke to Ven Johnson, an attorney who is representing the family of Justin Schilling, a senior who died while shielding fellow students from gunfire.
According to Johnson, this trial underscores the importance of parents nationwide checking in on their sons and daughters, especially when signs suggest they might pose risks to themselves or others.
“(They) clearly did not want to deal with a child who was absolutely suffering from very, very deep emotional wounds, and needed help. And they refused to get them help.” Johnson said.
He added: “This should be a wake-up call to all people, but especially parents with kids who are going through difficulties: You’ve got to get them help before it’s too late.”
On Tuesday, the State Appellate Defenders Office confirmed to NewsNation that Ethan Crumbley is appealing his life-without-parole conviction. Additionally, his attorneys advised him to invoke his Fifth Amendment right if he’s called to the witness stand in either of his parent’s trials.
A few hours before the Nov. 30, 2021 shooting, the Crumbleys were summoned to Oxford High School. The parents were told to get him into counseling, but they declined to remove him from school and left campus after less than 30 minutes, according to investigators. Ethan had brought a gun from home that day, though no one checked his backpack.
The shooter surrendered to police after killing four students and wounding seven more people. The parents were charged a few days later, but they weren’t easy to find. Police said they were hiding in a building in Detroit.
The Crumbleys have been in jail for more than two years awaiting trial, unable to afford a $500,000 bond. Involuntary manslaughter in Michigan carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
Jury selection is expected to last two to three days, suggesting opening arguments may start as soon as Friday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.