CBS News
Verdict in for James Crumbley, father of Oxford High School shooter
(CBS DETROIT) – A jury has returned a verdict in the trial of James Crumbley, the father of the Oxford High School shooter.
Jury deliberations began on Wednesday after a nearly week-long trial to determine if the father holds any responsibility for the Oxford High School shooting, where his son killed four students, Justin Shilling, Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, and Hana St. Juliana, and injured seven other people on Nov. 30, 2021.
Crumbley is charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter and is accused of not keeping the gun used in the shooting safely stored away and not getting his son the necessary help for his mental health needs.
Defense attorney Mariell Lehman argued that James Crumbley was not aware that his son had access to the gun.
This comes after a jury found his wife, Jennifer Crumbley, guilty of four counts of involuntary manslaughter in February. She is scheduled to be sentenced on April 9.
Closing arguments in James Crumbley trial
Closing arguments began on March 13, after the defense called Karen Crumbley, the sister of James Crumbley, to testify. She was the only witness the defense called to the stand.
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald gave her closing argument and said that James Crumbley needs to be held responsible for the Oxford High School shooting due to his gross negligence. James Crumbley is accused of not safely storing the gun away from his son or getting his son the help he needed for his mental health struggles.
“James Crumbley is not on trial for what his son did,” McDonald said. “James Crumbley is on trial for what he did and what he didn’t do.”
Defense attorney Mariell Lehman argued that he was not aware that his son had access to the gun or was going to carry out the shooting. She also said the father wouldn’t have known what the shooter was writing in his journal or in text messages to his friend.
Testimony in James Crumbley trial
During the trial, the prosecution called several witnesses to testify. Most individuals called to the stand also testified during Jennifer Crumbley’s trial.
The first person called to testify was Molly Darnell, a teacher at Oxford High School who was injured in the shooting. She testified about how she made eye contact with the shooter before he shot her.
The shooter’s school counselor and the former Oxford High School dean of students both testified about meeting with James and Jennifer Crumbley and their son the day of the shooting, and detectives who responded to the scene of the shooting testified about searching the Crumbley parents’ house and searching for the parents after charges had been issued.
Luke Kirtley, the owner of a coffee roasting business, testified about how he called 911 after he saw James Crumbley’s car.
The parents were found in an art studio in the same building as Kirtley’s business.
A Detroit police officer was the only person the prosecution called to testify that they didn’t call to testify in the trial of Jennifer Crumbley.
David Metzke is a member of the department’s SWAT team and discussed responding to the industrial building and locating the parents in the art studio. He was recalled to testify on Wednesday and said that he reviewed surveillance footage after finding the parents and said that James and Jennifer Crumbley did not leave the premises of the building after arriving; they had only stepped outside to smoke.
How to watch
CBS News
Trump makes more Cabinet picks but some top economic posts remain unfilled
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
CBS News
Open: This is “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Nov. 24, 2024
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
CBS News
Popular gluten free tortilla strips recalled over possible contamination with wheat
A food company known for popular grocery store condiments has recalled a package of tortilla strips that may be contaminated with wheat, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday. The product is meant to be gluten-free.
Sugar Foods, a manufacturing and distribution corporation focused mainly on various toppings, artificial sweeteners and snacks, issued the recall for the “Santa Fe Style” version of tortilla strips sold by the brand Fresh Gourmet.
“People who have a wheat allergy or severe sensitivity to wheat run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the product,” said Sugar Foods in an announcement posted by the FDA.
Packages of these tortilla strips with an expiration date as late as June 20, 2025, could contain undeclared wheat, meaning the allergen is not listed as an ingredient on the label. The Fresh Gourmet product is marketed as gluten-free.
Sugar Foods said a customer informed the company on Nov. 19 that packages of the tortilla strips actually contained crispy onions, another Fresh Gourmet product normally sold in a similar container. The brand’s crispy onion product does contain wheat, and that allergen is noted on the label.
No illnesses tied to the packaging mistake have been reported, according to the announcement from Sugar Foods. However, the company is still recalling the tortilla strips as a precaution. The contamination issue may have affected products distributed between Sept. 30 and Nov. 11 in 22 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington.
Sugar Foods has advised anyone with questions about the recall to contact the company’s consumer care department by email or phone.
CBS News reached out to Sugar Foods for more information but did not receive an immediate reply.
This is the latest in a series of food product recalls affected because of contamination issues, although the others involved harmful bacteria. Some recent, high-profile incidents include an E. coli outbreak from organic carrots that killed at least one person in California, and a listeria outbreak that left an infant dead in California and nine people hospitalized across four different states, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The E. coli outbreak is linked to multiple different food brands while the listeria outbreak stemmed from a line of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products sold by Yu-Shang Foods.