Children often do things that their parents would never imagine them doing, but often there are signs that are either overlooked, ignored or even excused.
On Nov. 30, 2021, Ethan Crumbley, 15 at the time, went to Oxford High School in a Detroit, Mich., suburb. There he murdered four of his classmates and injured seven other people, including a teacher.
Crumbley was charged as an adult for 24 crimes, including murder and terrorism. He pleaded guilty to all charges in October 2022.
But that’s not the end of the story.
Crumbley’s parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, will now stand trial for what they did – or didn’t do – prior to their son’s deadly rampage. They stand accused of making the gun used available to their son and failing to recognize or act on warning signs. The Crumbleys have pleaded not guilty to four counts of involuntary manslaughter.
A judge ruled that the Crumbleys’ “actions and inactions were inexorably intertwined” with their son’s actions.
Although parents typically cannot be held liable for a child’s crime, the court – as well as an appeals court – ruled that the Crumbleys were aware that their son was contemplating the assault, left a gun accessible to him, and were “actively involved” in their son’s mental state remaining untreated.
Ethan Crumbley was reportedly called to the school office the day prior to the shooting, and again on the morning of, for disciplinary problems. School officials tried contacting his mother by email and phone, but she did not respond. She later texted her son, saying, “LOL I’m not mad at you. You have to learn not to get caught.”
School officials had previously suggested mental treatment for Ethan. The parents declined.
Holding parents responsible for a child’s behavior can be a slippery slope, but there have been too many shootings for any parent not to realize the potential exists. In nearly every case, the shooter used an unsecured weapon. In this day and age, there is no excuse for any weapon to be unsecured and available to a child.
Ethan Crumbley drew disturbing pictures of shootings
and even wrote “help me” on one that was shown to his parents. Where was the help?
And it’s not just school shootings where many parents have turned a blind eye to so many red flags.
If a child comes home with a bicycle, cell phone, video game, jacket, etc. that doesn’t belong to them, it’s most likely stolen. “Oh, my friend gave it to me” is not an acceptable answer. A responsible parent/guardian would check with that friend’s parent to make sure.
Nearly every day’s local police reports show numerous stolen items. Those items are sitting in someone’s home and those parents know whether they bought them or they just mysteriously showed up.
Maybe your child hasn’t shot up his school, but he’s still a criminal and you, like the Crumbleys, shrug it off as kids being kids.
People are dying because of uninvolved and unresponsive parents. Children are growing up to be criminals because their parents take so little interest in their activities.
It’s time to step up to the plate and be a parent. Or face the consequences.
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