Judge Rules 15-Year-Old Ethan Crumbley Could Face Lifetime Imprisonment for Killing 4 Michigan Students
A 15-year-old teen who fatally shot four students at Oxford High School in Michigan could face life imprisonment without parole, as ruled by a judge The shooter's parents also face charges Discover the events that led to this significant court decision
The judge ruled on Friday that the teen gunman who killed four students at Oxford High School is eligible for life imprisonment without parole, the harshest possible punishment in Michigan. Ethan Crumbley, who is now 17, was only 15 when he opened fire at the school on November 30, 2021. He has pleaded guilty to one count of terrorism causing death, four counts of first-degree murder, and 19 other charges related to the deadly rampage.
Here are the four victims of the Oxford High School shooting: Hana St. Juliana, 14 (top left), Justin Shilling, 17 (top right), Tate Myre, 16 (bottom left), and Madisyn Baldwin, 17 (bottom right).
Obtained by CNN
These are the 4 lives cut short in the Oxford High School shooting
Seven individuals, including a teacher, were injured in the shooting but survived.
As of Friday, Crumbley has been sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole by Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Kwamé Rowe. This ruling comes amidst ongoing concerns about school shootings, with over 50 incidents and 27 fatalities reported nationwide this year.
The judge in Crumbley's case took into account the teenager's behavior both prior to and after the mass shooting while in custody following his arrest, stating on Friday, "It is evident to this court that the defendant had a fixation on violence before the shooting," pointing to Crumbley's troubling writings and history of violence towards animals prior to the mass shooting.
Ethan Crumbley, 15, is escorted away from the courtroom following a placement hearing at Oakland County Circuit Court on February 22, 2022 in Pontiac, Michigan. The teenager is facing charges for the fatal shooting of four fellow students and the injury of seven others, as well as a teacher at Oxford High School on November 30, 2021. (Photo by David Guralnick-Pool/Getty Images)
David Guralnick/Pool/Getty Images
Michigan school shooter showed 'sporadic, disturbing behavior' in county jail, prosecutors say
The judge stated that Crumbley managed to bypass the technical security on a jail tablet to access graphic and violent content online since his arrest. Rowe also mentioned that Crumbley's preoccupation with violence makes his rehabilitation in prison unlikely.
The judge questioned the possibility of rehabilitation for the defendant if he remains fixated on violence while in jail. Despite this, Crumbley's fate is still unknown, with his formal sentencing set for December 8. He may face a life sentence without the possibility of parole, or a life sentence with the possibility of parole.
The killers parents also face charges
Victims who survived the shooting and family members of those who were killed will be providing victim impact statements during the sentencing hearing in Pontiac, Michigan, prior to Rowe issuing Crumbley's sentence on December 8.
While Crumbley sits in jail awaiting sentencing, his parents are also behind bars awaiting trial. Jennifer and James Crumbley are facing four counts of involuntary manslaughter.
Jennifer and James Crumbley are pictured attending their pretrial hearing at the 6th Circuit Court on March 22, 2022, in Pontiac, Michigan. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)
The Crumbley parents have lost their appeal, which could have significant implications for preventing school shootings. Prosecutors claim that they provided their son with easy access to a gun and ignored warning signs that he posed a threat. Additionally, they allegedly neglected the teen's request for mental health treatment despite his admission of needing help, as stated in a March opinion written by a panel of judges.
The parents are arguing that the charges against them are legally unjustified and that they should not be held accountable for their son's actions. "There is no doubt that the home environment for the defendants was far from ideal," Rowe stated on Friday.
"The judge stated that the defendant's parents often left him alone from a young age, frequently consumed alcohol and argued in his presence, disregarded his mental health, and purchased the gun used in the school shooting," the judge said.
Shari Unger, Melissa Goldsmith, and Giulianna Cerbono (L-R) embrace as they pay a visit to a temporary memorial erected in front of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 18, 2018 in Parkland, Florida. 19-year-old former student Nikolas Cruz was arrested and charged by the police for the shooting on February 14 that claimed the lives of 17 people. (Image: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Be mindful of potential signals: These are indicators that students can be aware of to help stop school violence. Rowe admitted that the shooter's family and living environment have an impact on his behavior.
What led up to the judges ruling
Despite this, the court has determined that the defendant acted alone in the commission of the primary offense," stated Rowe. "He systematically moved through the school, selecting his victims with precision. His intention was to take the lives of the innocent."
Oakland County prosecutors and the Crumbley defense team presented witness testimony and evidence over the summer at a so-called Miller hearing - one required by law in which prosecutors seek a life sentence without the possibility of parole for a minor defendant.
Ethan Crumbley was escorted out of the courtroom following a placement hearing at the Oakland County circuit court in Pontiac, Michigan on Tuesday, February 22, 2022. The 15-year-old is facing charges for the fatal shooting of four students and the injuring of seven others, including a teacher, at Oxford High School on November 30. (Photo credit: David Guralnick/Detroit News via AP, Pool)
The prosecutors have argued that the school shooting suspect should be kept in an adult jail due to their mental maturity being far beyond that of an average 15-year-old. They also cited the premeditation of the attack as justification for a potential life sentence, and presented audio messages in which the teen expressed intentions of carrying out the shooting.
Defense attorney Paulette Loftin urged the judge to take into account Crumbley's challenging home life and his unsuccessful pleas to his parents for mental health treatment as mitigating factors when considering a prison sentence with parole eligibility. Loftin also advocated for Crumbley to be given the opportunity for rehabilitation and for a parole board to evaluate his progress in the future.
During her closing argument at the hearing, Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald admitted that Crumbley's parents were negligent. However, she emphasized that this fact doesn't outweigh the act and other factors.
A parent embraces their child while others arrive to collect students from the Meijer store in Oxford, Mich., in the aftermath of an active shooter incident at Oxford High School on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021. The Oakland County Sheriff's office confirmed the apprehension of a suspected shooter and reported multiple victims. (Photo by Ryan Garza/Detroit Free Press via AP)
The reason why the Michigan school shooter was charged with terrorism is because, as stated by the prosecutor, they cannot ignore the fact that he had a choice to commit such a violent act, despite any potential factors, such as upbringing.
"He had numerous chances, but he plotted and planned without displaying any mitigating factors or evidence commonly seen in hundreds of other juvenile life without parole cases," McDonald stated.
Survivors of the shooting, both students and faculty, gave testimony about their harrowing experiences encountering the shooter during the hearing. Expert witnesses from opposing sides provided conflicting testimony regarding the impact of the shooter's challenging home life, his mental health, and the likelihood of rehabilitation while in prison.
CNNs Ashley R. Williams contributed to this report.
