Michigan school shooting: Parents of teenage gunman sentenced to 10-15 years in prison

The parents of the teenage gunman who killed four students in a 2021 school shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan were sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison on Tuesday (Apr 9). James and Jennifer Crumbley were convicted of manslaughter in separate trials. The court found that the duo had ample opportunities to prevent the tragic incident but they chose to turn a blind eye. Judge Cheryl Matthews in the ruling said, “Opportunity knocked over and over again, louder and louder, and was ignored." "No one answered, and these two people should have, and sure didn't," the judge added.

She added that these convictions “confirm repeated acts or lack of acts that could have halted an oncoming runaway train”.

Couple tender apology

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Earlier, the couple spoke before the court and tendered an apology to the parents of the victims for the pain and suffering that their son had caused.

"I sit here today to express my deepest sorrows for the families of Hana, Tate, Madisyn, Justin, and to all those affected on November 30, 2021," Jennifer reportedly said in the court. "I will be in my own internal prison for the rest of my life," she added.

James said he can’t imagine “the pain and agony” that the victim families are experiencing.

"I want to say I can't imagine the pain and agony ... for the families that have lost their children and what they are experiencing and what they are going through. As a parent, our biggest fear is losing our child or our children, and to lose a child is unimaginable. My heart is really broken for everybody involved," James said.

"I really want the families of Madisyn Baldwin, Hana St Juliana, Tate Myre, and Justin Shilling to know how truly sorry I am and how devastated I was when I heard what happened to them," he added.

The judge added that the parents will get 858 days of credit already served in jail.

(With inputs from agencies)