OXFORD, Mich. – Both the defense and prosecution rested their cases on Wednesday, saying they had no further witnesses to call in the trial of James Crumbley, father of the Oxford High School shooter.
Crumbley is on trial this month for involuntary manslaughter more than two years after his son murdered four students and injured seven other people at the high school. The father is accused of failing to take action that could have prevented the Nov. 30, 2021, mass school shooting.
James and his wife were both charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the four students murdered by their son. They are the first parents of a U.S. mass shooter to be charged in connection with their child’s crimes.
The shooter was sentenced in December to life in prison without the chance of parole. His parents are standing trial separately.
Jennifer Crumbley’s trial ended in February. She was found guilty of all charges.
Crumbley’s trial was expected to wrap up officially with closing arguments on Wednesday, March 13. Click here for find the most up-to-date coverage of the trial.
A total of 16 witnesses were called during this trial. You can watch all of the witness testimonies below.
Thursday, March 7
Witness 1: Molly Darnell, former Oxford High School faculty member
Oxford High School teacher Molly Darnell was called as the first witness. Darnell was among the seven people wounded in the shooting. She had previously provided a victim impact statement during the shooter’s sentencing in December.
Witness 2: Edward Wagrowski, formerly with Oakland County Sheriff’s Office
At the time of the shooting, Edward Wagrowski was working for the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office as a computer crime expert. He worked on the investigation into the parents and the shooter’s text messages and social media posts.
Part one
Part two
Part three
Part four, cross-examination
Friday, March 8
Witness 3: Robert Koteles, crime scene supervisor
Robert Koteles, an Oakland County Sheriff’s Office forensic lab and crime scene supervisor, was called to the stand. Koteles was working in the lab when the Oxford High School shooting happened, and was also tasked with retrieving the murder weapon.
Witness 4: Cammy Back, gun store manager
Cammy Back is the office manager at the gun store where James Crumbley bought the handgun used by his son in the Oxford shooting. She said she previously worked at the counter for gun sales and was the one who sold the gun to James Crumbley.
Witness 5: Detective Sgt. Joe Brian, Oakland County Sheriff’s Office
A detective sergeant with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations unit took the stand. Sgt. Joe Brian had the same job at the time of the shooting, and interacted with the shooter’s parents on that day.
Witness 6: Kristy Gibson-Marshall, assistant Oxford high principal
The assistant principal at Oxford High School was called to the stand. She was in the cafeteria at the time of the shooting, and ran toward the sound of gunshots in the school’s 200 hallway. She encountered the shooter, who didn’t harm her, as well as one of the victims.
Monday, March 11
Witness 7: Shawn Hopkins, school counselor
Shawn Hopkins, a counselor at Oxford High School, was called to the stand. Hopkins was assigned as the shooter’s counselor, and interacted with the shooter leading up to and on the day of the shooting.
Witness 8: Nicholas Ejak, former dean of students
Nicholas Ejak was the dean of students at Oxford High School at the time of the 2021 shooting. He was in charge of disciplinary action at the school, and interacted with the shooter on the morning of the shooting. It was his first year with the district and had been working there for roughly four months before the shooting.
Witness 9: Special Agent Brett Brandon
Special Agent Brett Brandon is with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). He is currently assigned to the Pontiac Gun Violence Task Force, which investigates the criminal use of firearms in shootings.
Part one
Part two
Tuesday, March 12
Witness 10: Detective Adam Stoyek, Oakland County Sheriff’s Office
Adam Stoyek is a detective with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. He has worked with the office for about four years, including at the time of the shooting. Stoyek was tasked with securing James Crumbley’s house after the shooting and executing a search warrant.
Witness 11: David Hendrick, Oakland County Sheriff’s Office
David Hendrick was a member of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office’s Fugitive Apprehension Team at the time of the shooting. He has since retired. He helped lead the search for James Crumbley and his wife a few days after the shooting, as they were being sought by law enforcement and believed to be on the run.
Witness 12: Luke Kirtley
Luke Kirtley owns a Detroit coffee company that has space in the building where the Crumbley parents were taken into custody on Dec. 4, 2021. Kirtley was the person identify the parents and their vehicle, and made a 911 call to report them. The parents were apprehended hours later.
Witness 13: David Metzke, Detroit Police Department
David Metzke is a member of the Detroit Police Department’s Special Response Team, which is their SWAT unit. Metzke was part of the team that breached the door to the room where James Crumbley and his wife were staying the night of Dec. 3, 2021. His team apprehended the parents in the early morning hours of Dec. 4, 2021.
Witness 14: William Creer, crime scene investigator
William Creer is a crime scene investigator with the Detroit Police Department. He investigated the scene at the building where James Crumbley and his wife were apprehended in the early morning hours of Dec. 4, 2021.
Witness 15: Detective Lt. Timothy Willis, Oakland County Sheriff’s Office
Timothy Willis, a detective lieutenant with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. He is the officer in charge of the Oxford shooting case.
Part one
Part two
Wednesday, March 13
Witness recalled: Brett Brandon
ATF special agent Brett Brandon was recalled to the stand briefly on Wednesday. He was asked a few clarifying questions by both sides before being excused.
Witness 16: Karen Crumbley, defendant’s sister
The defense called their only witness, Karen Crumbley, to the stand on Wednesday. She is James Crumbley’s sister, and lives in Florida.
Both the prosecution and defense rested their cases. Karen Crumbley was the final witness at this trial.