News, Culture and NPR for Central & Northern Michigan
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
91.7FM Alpena and WCML-TV Channel 6 Alpena are off the air. Click here to learn more.

Appeals court hears Crumbley appeal

These undated photos provided by the Oakland County Sheriff's Office show James Crumbley, left, and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of Ethan Crumbley, who is accused of killing four students at Oxford High School in Michigan.
Oakland County Sheriff's Office via AP
These undated photos provided by the Oakland County Sheriff's Office show James Crumbley, left, and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of Ethan Crumbley, who is accused of killing four students at Oxford High School in Michigan.

The Michigan Court of Appeals heard arguments this Tuesday morning on whether a case against the parents of the Oxford High School mass shooter can go to trial.
For now, James and Jennifer Crumbley are facing involuntary manslaughter charges.

Attorneys representing the couple argued the case should be thrown out because despite numerous warning signs they couldn’t have foreseen their son would kill four people.

Defense attorney Marielle Lehman disputed a number of facts in the case when being questioned by the court.

“James Crumbley did not know that E-C had access to that firearm... he bought him the gun,” Lehman said.

The couple’s son Ethan said at his allocution that his father bought him the gun.

Appellate judges did put to prosecution that there’s technically nothing wrong with a minor being interested in having a gun.

It’s not known when the precedent-setting ruling will be issued. Either way an appeal is likely.

Alex McLenon is a Reporter with 101.9 WDET.