PONTIAC, Mich. — The mother of Ethan Crumbley, the teenager responsible for the tragic shooting at Oxford High School, testified in her involuntary manslaughter trial, shedding light on the events leading up to the devastating incident. Jennifer Crumbley claimed that her husband stored the gun he had bought for their son as a Christmas gift, and she admitted to hiding the bullets after taking him to a gun range. Furthermore, she argued that the school failed to inform her about her son’s difficulties staying awake and paying attention in his classes.
During her testimony, Crumbley revealed her son’s concerns about his future after high school, including anxiety about tests and his post-graduation plans. However, she maintained that his mental health never raised enough alarms for her to seek professional help. Her lawyer emphasized that her close relationship with her son made it inconceivable for her to anticipate his violent actions.
The trial, which began on Jan. 25, continued to unravel the complex dynamics between Crumbley and her son, who was 15 at the time of the shooting. Prosecutors argued that she was aware of her son’s deteriorating mental health and social isolation, but her defense claimed that the school failed to fully inform her and her husband, who was responsible for storing the weapon.
If found guilty, the Crumbleys each face up to 15 years in prison and a $7,500 fine per charge. The trial’s focus has been on the day of the shooting, and during a week of presenting its case, prosecutors called more than 20 witnesses, including law enforcement and school staff, and showed text message and video evidence, including school surveillance of the shooting itself.
Crumbley testified that she felt uneasy about being responsible for storing the gun, and she recounted the events leading up to the tragedy, including the school’s knowledge of her son’s access to a gun and concerning behavior. The revelations in her testimony have added complexity to a case that has garnered national attention.