Michigan School Shooting: Mother of Gunman Will Testify in Trial of Manslaughter Charges

In the trial concerning the Michigan school shooting in November 2021, Jennifer Crumbley, the mother of the suspect, Ethan Crumbley, is set to testify in her defense, according to her lawyer, Shannon Smith, according to ABC News.

Facing four counts of involuntary manslaughter, Jennifer Crumbley plans to share insights into her life, her son, and the events leading up to the tragic incident.

"Jennifer Crumbley is going to take the stand and tell you about her life, her son ... and when he did something she could not have predicted," Smith said.

However, the Michigan school shooting suspect's mother's testimony date has not been specified.

Her son, Ethan Crumbley, is accused of a school shooting that resulted in the death of four students and injuries to seven others.

The trial marks a rare case where parents face charges related to their child's mass shooting. The father, James Crumbley, will face a separate trial in March, also on four counts of involuntary manslaughter.

Prosecution's Perspective

Assistant prosecutor Marc Keast presented the prosecution's case, asserting that Jennifer Crumbley was aware of her son's declining mental health and social isolation, AP reports.

He highlighted a concerning incident where Ethan drew a gun on a math assignment, similar to one used at a shooting range. Keast quoted an Instagram post by Jennifer celebrating the gun purchase.

"This was a purchase celebrated by Jennifer on Instagram: 'Mom and son day testing out his new X-mas present,'" Keast said, citing Jennifer's social media post.

After noticing the drawing, the Crumbleys left a school meeting early, allowing Ethan to remain, ultimately leading to the tragic outcome.

Keast argued that, even though Jennifer didn't pull the trigger, she bears responsibility for the deaths. He focused on the accessibility of guns at the Crumbley home and the school's failure to address warning signs.

"Even though she didn't pull the trigger, she's responsible for those deaths," Keast said.

Keast emphasizes two crucial themes: the accessibility of a gun at the Crumbley home and the school meeting where the teen's alarming drawing and plea for help were presented.

James and Jennifer Crumbley's silence and inaction, despite having crucial information, are highlighted as key factors in the tragedy.

They failed to follow through on "small and easy things that would have prevented all this from happening," he said.

Defense's Response

Meanwhile, the defense emphasized that Jennifer was unaware of her son's mental condition, placing responsibility on the husband's love for guns, per The Independent.

Smith quoted Taylor Swift, stating that the prosecution's attempt to fix deep-rooted problems with a "Band-Aid" wouldn't bring back lost lives. She painted Jennifer as a "hypervigilant" mother who cared deeply for her son.

The defense argued that Jennifer had no knowledge of the gun's storage, claiming her husband kept it secured.

Smith asserted that the Michigan school shooting suspect's actions were unpredictable and not foreseeable.

The defense aimed to portray Jennifer as an attentive mother, listing her involvement in her son's activities and highlighting her lack of knowledge about firearms.

The trial began on January 23, with jury selection completed on Wednesday.

The unique case draws attention to parental responsibility in instances of mass shootings at schools.

Michigan school shooting suspect's mother, Jennifer Crumbley, maintains her plea of not guilty to all charges.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Trial underway for Michigan school shooter's mother - From CBS News