3 Oxford HS Students Could Testify Against Shooter's Father: Report

PONTIAC, MI — Prosecutors added three Oxford High School students to testify against James Crumbley, who is facing charges in deadly to the deadly Oxford school shooting, according to a Detroit Free Press report.

The list includes two students who were shot and injured during the deadly rampage, and gave impact statements at the shooter's sentencing hearing in December when Ethan Crumbley was sentenced to life without parole, according to the report.

Defense lawyers for James Crumbley argued the students should not be allowed to testify, because their testimony "would only serve to enflame the emotions of the jury," according to the report.

Moreover, defense lawyers also argued the case against James is about what he did or didn't do before the deadly shooting that left four dead on Nov. 30, 2021, according to the report.

Prosecutors' decision to add the three witnesses comes after James' wife, Jennifer Crumbley was found guilty on four counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the deadly shooting. Her sentencing is set for April 9 at 9 a.m.

No students nor the shooter testified in her trial.

Jurors will only need to believe one of two theories to declare Crumbley guilty: That James failed to perform a legal duty in patenting, or that he knew his son was a danger to others and failed to take the ordinary care steps to avoid injuring others.

Prosecutors are trying to prove James committed gross negligence leading up to the shooting. They claim the James ignored disturbing warning signs from their son leading up to the deadly shooting, and instead of getting him help, bought him a gun.

Defense lawyers maintain he had no idea what his son was planning. Moreover, defense lawyers argued James cannot be held accountable because he was not "directly involved" in the Oxford school shooting, and are not "responsible for the deaths of others."

James Crumbley, 47, was charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the deadly shooting. He faces up to 15 years in prison on each charge.

James' trial will start on March 5, according to court documents.

The four students killed in the shooting were 14-year-old Hana St. Juliana, 16-year-old Tate Myre, 17-year-old Madisyn Baldwin and 17-year-old Justin Shilling.