Emma Sulaiman, Staff Writer
Tribute to Oxford High School Shooting Victims. Photo//FOX 2 Detroit.
Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley, now 17, recently attended court where a judge ruled that he could possibly face life in prison without the possibility of parole.
On Nov. 30, 2021, a 15-year-old Crumbley murdered four of his classmates and injured seven others, including a teacher.
Crumbley was armed with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun purchased by his father four days before the shooting and gifted to him as an early Christmas present.
A few days prior to the shooting, Crumbley posted disturbing pictures on his Instagram profile of the gun gifted to him – later used during the massacre – as well as some comments expressing his desire to terrorize the school.
On the day of the shooting, disturbing notes and drawings were found in Crumbley’s notebook, yet his parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, disregarded school warnings to take their son home that fateful day.
The Crumbleys – both parents and son – have been jailed for almost two years now.
While the parents have been charged with involuntary manslaughter, the young Crumbley was tried as an adult and pled guilty to one count of terrorism causing death, four counts of first-degree murder, seven counts of attempted murder, and 12 counts of using a gun during a felony.
Oakland County prosecutors, along with Oakland County Circuit Judge Kwame Rowe who will decide Crumbley’s sentence, state that he was fully aware of his actions before, during and after the shooting and his mental illness was not a factor in the massacre. The defense, on the other hand, claims that Crumbley’s parents left him a neglected and troubled child and he is not deserving of life in prison without parole.
Psychologist Colin King states that Crumbley can be rehabilitated since his mind has not fully matured yet, and he should not automatically be given the possibility for life in prison because of his young age at the time of the shooting.
While prosecutors argue that his parents were criminally negligent in buying him a gun and ignoring his severe mental health concerns, the Crumbleys’ attorneys claim that there was no way they could’ve foreseen their son’s crimes.
The Michigan Supreme Court refuses to hear his parents’ appeal, meaning they could possibly be facing up to 15 years in prison if they are convicted. They are currently set to stand trial on Jan. 23, 2024.
Ethan Crumbley’s sentencing is set for Dec. 8, where it will be decided whether he will face a minimum of 25 to 40 years and a maximum of 60 years in prison or life without parole.
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