Mother of Michigan school shooter convicted of manslaughter

Daily News Lesson

Feb. 12, 2024, 4:01 p.m.

Mother of Michigan school shooter convicted of manslaughter

SUMMARY

For the first time, a parent has been convicted in a mass school shooting. Jennifer Crumbley was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter after her son, Ethan Crumbley, killed four students and injured seven others in 2021 at Oxford High in Michigan. The gunman was sentenced to life in prison without parole. His mother faces up to 60 years in prison.

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Key terms

involuntary manslaughter = a criminal charge against individuals whose actions led to the death of another, even though harm wasn't intended

conviction = to be found guilty of a crime in a court of law

WARM UP QUESTIONS

Who is Jennifer Crumbley?
What crime was Crumbley convicted of committing?
When did Crumbley's son kill four students as part of a school shooting?
Why was the conviction against Crumbley "unprecedented" ( = has not happened before)?
How might the precedent (= example of a court decision) set in this case be used in other cases, according to Ekow Yankah?

FOCUS QUESTIONS

How do you think this precedent will impact other criminal cases? What sort of cases do you think might be brought against people for involuntary manslaughter?

Media literacy: What evidence did the jury hear that led them to this unprecedented conviction? You can read more about the case here. Where could you go to learn more about the broader legal consequences of the decision?

Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to find out more about?

FOR MORE

What students can do:

Read this reflection from a Michigan teacher written after the Oxford school shooting. Then discuss — what are some ways to bring justice and peace to communities affected by school shootings? Should parents be held accountable for the actions of their children?

FILE - Handwritten messages are left at the memorial site at the memorial site on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, outside Oxford High School in Oxford, Mich., after a 15-year-old allegedly killed these four classmates, and injured seven others in a shooting inside the northern Oakland County school one week earlier. School officials around the country are planning to step up security Friday in response to social media posts warning of violence. The anonymous threats on TikTok had many educators on edge because they are circulating in the aftermath of a deadly school shooting in Michigan. (Jake May/The Flint Journal via AP, File)

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