The father of a Michigan school shooter, who claimed the lives of four students, has been found guilty of manslaughter. This case marks the first instance of parents being charged with manslaughter in connection to their child's involvement in a shooting in the US..

During the trial, it was revealed that James Crumbley, 47, had neglected his 15-year-old son's mental health needs, purchasing the handgun used in the November 2021 attack.

After deliberating for just over a day, the jury reached their verdict.

His wife, Jennifer Crumbley, faces sentencing next month after being convicted on the same charges.

James Crumbley was present in court for the verdict on Thursday evening, displaying little reaction as it was delivered.

Their son, Ethan, fatally shot fellow students Tate Myre, 16; Hana St Juliana, 14; Madisyn Baldwin, 17, and Justin Shilling, 17, with seven others sustaining injuries.

Ethan is currently serving a life sentence without parole.

Steve St Juliana, Hana's father, commented that the prosecution of the Crumbleys represents "just the beginning steps" in addressing gun violence in the US.

"Our children are dying on a daily basis in mass murders and we do very little about this," he emphasized.

"We can put people on the Moon, we can build skyscrapers, huge monuments like the Hoover Dam and we can't keep our kids safe in schools," he lamented.

Prosecutor Karen McDonald, speaking at a press conference alongside parents of the victims, stated that while the verdict "does not bring back their children," it does signify a moment of accountability.

"These parents could have prevented this tragedy with just the smallest of efforts," McDonald asserted.

In her closing arguments, McDonald described the attack at Oxford High School as "preventable and foreseeable," labeling James Crumbley's actions as "rare and egregious."

Crumbley's defence attorney, Mariell Lehman, argued that "James had no idea that his son was having a hard time." He did not testify during the trial, unlike his wife, who attempted to shift blame onto him.

The Crumbleys purchased the 9mm Sig Sauer pistol used by their son just days before the shooting, prosecutors revealed. They also failed to ensure the safe storage of the weapon, according to prosecutors.

Nick Suplina, from the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety, emphasized the responsibility of parents and gun owners to prevent children from accessing deadly weapons, welcoming the verdict as reinforcing this duty.

The Crumbleys were charged shortly after the killings occurred. Initially set for a joint trial, the parents requested separate trials in November.

Both are scheduled for sentencing on April 9, with manslaughter carrying a maximum penalty of up to 15 years.