Prosecutor in Georgia School Shooting Case Receives Advice from Historic Predecessor

Karen McDonald, the prosecutor who successfully tried the parents of Oxford High School mass shooter Ethan Crumbley, offers guidance to the prosecutor in the Apalachee High School shooting case.

The prosecutor who made legal history by trying the parents of a child charged with a mass shooting has extended words of advice to the Georgia high school shooting's prosecutor.

Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald, who successfully convicted the parents of Oxford High School shooter Ethan Robert Crumbley, advises that trying parents in such cases is a demanding undertaking.

Prosecutor in Georgia School Shooting Case Receives Advice from Historic Predecessor

In November 2021, Crumbley's parents were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for providing him with the gun he used to kill four students and injure seven others, including a teacher.

The recent shooting at Apalachee High School echoes the Oxford High School tragedy, as the alleged shooter's father, Colin Gray, is accused of giving his son the rifle used in the attack.

Prosecutor in Georgia School Shooting Case Receives Advice from Historic Predecessor

McDonald emphasized the rarity and difficulty of obtaining convictions in such cases, citing the high legal burden of proving gross negligence under involuntary manslaughter charges.

Despite the legal complexities, McDonald believes parents should be held accountable when their actions foreseeably contribute to harm.

Prosecutor in Georgia School Shooting Case Receives Advice from Historic Predecessor

"It's not lost on me that there was not a wave of support or acceptance of the charges when they were announced," McDonald acknowledged. "But I knew looking at all the evidence that we had, that is not released to the public, I knew that you don’t get to walk away from that sort of egregious behavior when it was reasonably foreseeable that your kid was going to hurt himself or somebody else."

McDonald's primary counsel to the Apalachee shooting prosecutors is to approach the case with integrity and courage.

"Do the right thing and have courage," she advised.

Colt Gray, 14, faces adult charges of felony murder, while Colin Gray, 54, is charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree murder, and child cruelty.

Georgia is among 42 states that hold parents responsible for their children's criminal actions.

McDonald's trailblazing efforts in the Oxford High School case have set a precedent for holding parents accountable in mass shooting cases. Her advice serves as valuable guidance for prosecutors grappling with similar challenges.

The prosecutor's office in Oakland County did not immediately respond to a request for comment.