According to Portal, the parents of a teenager in the United States who went on a school shooting spree after receiving a gun as a Christmas present have been charged with involuntary manslaughter, which could set a new legal precedent in the country.
The gifted weapon and investigations
The case occurred on November 30, 2021 at a high school in the state of Michigan. The 15yearold teenager was accused of causing a shooting that left four students dead and seven people injured. According to authorities, his parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, knew their son had access to the guns they received as a Christmas present.
Educators and even the boy's teacher recognized signs of danger when they noticed him searching for ammunition online.
behavior of parents
The parents were summoned to a hearing but did not appear. According to prosecutors, the mother even encouraged her son's behavior by sending him a text message that said, “I'm not mad at you. You have to learn not to get caught.”
Arrest of the couple
The Crumbley couple were arrested the day after the trial after James Crumbley, the father, called the police on the day of the shooting after hearing that there had been a shooter at the local school and believing that his son was the one could be the perpetrator.
Violence, weapons and schools in the USA
According to the NGO Gun Violence Archive, the US recorded 656 mass shootings last year. A U.S. government survey found that 75% of school shooters purchased the weapons they used in their own homes.
Experts believe that the present case could lead to a new legal precedent on the issue of parental responsibility in violent situations involving minors.