Michigan Shooter’s Parents’ Guilty Verdicts Could Be Road Map

After involuntary manslaughter convictions handed down by juries against the mother and father of a then-15-year-old, who killed four students at a Michigan high school, prosecutors could be emboldened to more aggressively pursue parents in similar situations, even in circumstances where criminal responsibility is less clear.

The cases against James and Jennifer Crumbley will undoubtedly serve as a road map for authorities dealing with the fallout of similar tragedies in their communities, legal scholars said. Some anticipate, and fear, that prosecutors across the country will follow the Michigan cases’ example even when the evidence is less strong, potentially leading to ...