Father of the Perpetrator Convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter
In 2021, a teenager fatally shot four students at a school in the state of Michigan, with the murder weapon being a gift from his parents. Following the conviction of the mother, the father has now also been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
Verdict in Michigan
After the mother was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in four counts weeks ago, the father of a teenager who shot four students at a school in Michigan in 2021 has also been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. A jury in Pontiac, Michigan, announced their verdict on Thursday evening.
Punishment for Parents
Although parents have been held accountable for negligent behavior in the past, this is the first time parents of a minor shooter have been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. The sentencing for both the father and mother will be declared at a later date, with each facing a potential 15 years in prison.
Gifted Gun by Parents
In November 2021, their then 15-year-old son, Ethan C., opened fire at his school in the small town of Oxford, north of Detroit, using a Sig Sauer pistol. He killed four classmates aged between 14 and 17 and injured six other students and a teacher. The attacker was sentenced to life in prison last December and did not testify in the trials against his parents.
Negligence and Ignored Warnings
Authorities also investigated the parents of the teenager, as they had purchased the firearm a few days before the attack and allowed their minor son access to it. They allegedly ignored warnings from the boy’s school environment, where violent drawings by the teenager were found days before the incident.
Failure to Act
On the day of the shooting, the parents were called to the school but declined to take their son home and failed to check if he had the weapon with him. Shortly after, the teenager carried out the deadly attack. Prosecuting attorney Karen McDonald stated in her closing argument that the perpetrator’s father not only failed his son but also breached his legal duty to prevent the loss of life. However, defense attorney Mariell Lehman argued that her client was unaware of his son’s intentions and had no knowledge of the planned violence.