Father's Encouraging Words Before Tragic School Shooting Revealed in Trial Testimony

During a crucial meeting with school staff just before the tragic 2021 mass shooting at a Michigan high school, the shooter's father reassured his son that there were "people you can talk to," a school counselor revealed during the manslaughter trial of James Crumbley, the father.

The counselor, Shawn Hopkins from Oxford High School, testified that James had a conversation with his son and mentioned that he had support available, such as talking to the counselor, using his journal, and having open communication with his family.

Hopkins testified that on the surface, it seemed like James Crumbley was taking good care of his 15-year-old son, Ethan Crumbley.

This testimony was given early on in James Crumbley's trial, which Judge Cheryl Matthews mentioned might be ready for the jury by Wednesday.

The elder Crumbley could go to prison for up to 15 years if found guilty of four counts of involuntary manslaughter in the tragic shooting at Oxford High School on November 30, 2021. This incident resulted in the deaths of four students and injuries to six students and a teacher.

Just recently, James’ wife, Jennifer Crumbley, was found guilty of the same charges. Ethan, their son, was previously sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. This was after he admitted to charges of terrorism causing death, four counts of murder, and 19 other related offenses.

The case against James Crumbley is challenging the boundaries of responsibility in a mass shooting, similar to the case against his wife. Prosecutors are pushing the limits by holding the shooter's parents accountable for providing him with a gun and ignoring signs of mental health issues. This unique legal strategy aims to broaden the scope of blame in mass shootings.

James Crumbley enters the Oakland County courtroom Friday, March 8, 2024, in Pontiac, Mich. Crumbley is on trial for involuntary manslaughter. He's accused of contributing to the tragedy at Oxford High School by failing to properly secure a gun used by son Ethan Crumbley. Four students were killed and more were wounded. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, Pool)

James Crumbley appeared in court on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Pontiac, Mich. He is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter for his alleged role in the Oxford High School tragedy. It is believed that he did not properly secure a gun that his son, Ethan Crumbley, used in the incident. The shooting resulted in the deaths of four students and injuries to several others. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, Pool)

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Parents have previously been held accountable for their child's actions, such as neglect or firearms charges. However, Jennifer Crumbley's situation marked the first time a parent of a school shooter was directly implicated in the tragic events.

The counselor's testimony, presented on Monday, focused on a crucial meeting held on the morning of the shooting. Ethan Crumbley was summoned to this meeting with Hopkins, former Oxford High School dean Nicholas Ejak, and Jennifer and James Crumbley. The purpose of the meeting was to address Ethan's troubling writings on a math worksheet, which included phrases like "blood everywhere" and "my life is useless," along with drawings of a gun and bullet.

Hopkins testified that he suggested Ethan Crumbley receive mental health treatment that day. However, Jennifer Crumbley mentioned they couldn't go because of work commitments. James Crumbley did not object, as per the counselor. Hopkins also mentioned that neither parent shared any further details about their worries or firearm access concerns.

During cross-examination, Hopkins admitted that he had not informed the Crumbleys about three other occasions when Ethan's teachers had flagged his concerning behavior.

After the meeting, the parents went to work and their son returned to class. However, about two hours later, the teenager pulled out a gun from his backpack and started shooting at the school.

Ethan admitted to committing one count of terrorism causing death, four counts of murder, and 19 other charges connected to the violent attack. He was given a life sentence without the possibility of parole last year. During his mother's trial, Ethan chose not to testify as his lawyers had stated that he would exercise his right to remain silent under the Fifth Amendment.

The evidence so far

Clockwise from top left: Hana St. Juliana, Justin Shilling, Madisyn Baldwin and Tate Myre were killed in the attack.

Clockwise from top left: Hana St. Juliana, Justin Shilling, Madisyn Baldwin and Tate Myre were killed in the attack.

Obtained by CNN

The case against James Crumbley shares similarities with his wife's case, as it includes testimony from the same shooting survivors, police investigators, and school employees. However, Ethan did not testify in his mother's trial because his attorneys stated he would invoke his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent if called upon.

Nevertheless, there are notable differences between the two cases. Each parent has varying levels of expertise with firearms and knowledge of Ethan's mental health issues. Additionally, this trial is completely separate, with a different jury, evidentiary rulings, and defense strategy in place.

James Crumbley was accused of being "grossly negligent" by Oakland County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Marc Keast. Keast pointed out that Crumbley bought the murder weapon for his son just four days before the attack and did not secure it, despite knowing that his son was struggling.

Keast emphasized that the tragic event could have been prevented and was predictable.

However, defense attorney Mariell Lehman argued that James Crumbley was unaware that his son had access to the weapon and did not perceive any immediate danger.

She stated, "You will not find any evidence that James Crumbley knew about his son's intentions. There is no indication that he even suspected his son posed a threat."

Defense attorney Mariell Lehman offers support to James Crumbley as he becomes emotional while watching a video of his son at Oxford High School. The video was shown in the Oakland County courtroom on March 8, 2024, in Pontiac, Michigan. Crumbley is currently on trial for involuntary manslaughter, as he is accused of not properly securing the gun used by his son, Ethan Crumbley. The tragic incident at Oxford High School resulted in the death of four students and multiple injuries. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, Pool)

Defense attorney Mariell Lehman puts her arm on James Crumbley after he gets emotional after watching the video of his son walking through the halls of Oxford H.S. in a video shown in the Oakland County courtroom Friday, March 8, 2024, in Pontiac, Mich. Crumbley is on trial for involuntary manslaughter. He's accused of contributing to the tragedy at Oxford High School by failing to properly secure a gun used by son Ethan Crumbley. Four students were killed and more were wounded. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, Pool)

Carlos Osorio/Pool/AP

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Jurors in James Crumbley's trial are faced with important decisions as they seek to ensure fairness.

During the trial, prosecutors have highlighted how Ethan acquired the SIG Sauer 9 mm gun that was used in the shooting. Testimony revealed that James bought the weapon for his son on Black Friday in 2021. He later confessed to authorities that he stored the gun in a case in his armoire, while the bullets were concealed in a separate location under a pile of jeans.

In August 2021, Ethan sent a video to his friend showing him handling and loading a gun. He mentioned that his dad had left it out, so he decided to play around with it. Both of his parents were at home at that time, as testified by forensic analyst Edward Wagrowski in court.

Prosecutors have also presented evidence to show that James was aware of his son's mental health issues. In April 2021, Ethan texted his only friend about hearing voices and seeing things. He mentioned that he had asked his dad to take him to the doctor, but his dad just gave him some pills and told him to "suck it up."

During questioning, Wagrowski admitted that the video of the gun does not provide information about where James Crumbley was or if he was helping his son. He also mentioned that there is no proof that James was aware of his son's messages or whether Ethan was telling the truth about his father's reaction.

CNN's Lauren del Valle and Nic F. Anderson assisted in the creation of this report.

Editor's P/S:

The manslaughter trial of James Crumbley, the father of the shooter in the 2021 Oxford High School tragedy, has brought to light the complex issues surrounding parental responsibility and accountability in mass shootings. The case, which is similar to the trial of his wife, Jennifer Crumbley, is challenging the boundaries of blame in such incidents. Prosecutors argue that the Crumbleys' negligence in providing their son with a gun and ignoring signs of mental health issues contributed to the tragic event. However, the defense contends that James Crumbley was unaware of his son's intentions and did not perceive any immediate danger.

The trial has highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach to preventing school shootings. It is crucial to address the root causes of these tragedies, including mental health issues and access to firearms. Parents, educators, and policymakers must work together to create a safe and supportive environment for all students. The legal outcome of this case will have significant implications for future discussions on parental responsibility and accountability in mass shootings.