DETROIT (AP) — In a ruling on Friday, a judge declared that Ethan Crumbley, the teenager responsible for the tragic shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan in 2021, is eligible for life in prison without parole due to the slim chance of rehabilitation. The decision by Judge Kwamé Rowe comes after weeks of expert testimonies on Crumbley’s mental health and the horrifying accounts of witnesses present on the day of the attack.
The formal sentencing will take place on December 8, providing survivors and families an opportunity to share the impact of the shooting on their lives. In Michigan, first-degree murder automatically carries a life sentence for adults. However, Crumbley was 15 years old at the time, giving Rowe the option to consider a shorter term of 25 to 40 years with a possibility of eventual release.
During the hearing, the burden was on the prosecution to demonstrate that a life sentence would not be unjust for a minor. Judge Rowe concluded that the prosecution had met this requirement, stating, “This crime was not impulsive or careless, nor does it reflect the characteristics of youth. The defendant meticulously planned and executed the shooting.” Rowe highlighted that Crumbley had downloaded a school map, calculated police response time, and researched prison placement for Michigan teens.
Prosecutor Karen McDonald, who is advocating for a life sentence, expressed her hope that the judge’s ruling would bring some solace to the Oxford community ahead of the final hearing in December. Crumbley, now 17, and his defense team were present in the county jail to hear the decision but chose not to comment afterward.
Defense attorney Margaret Raben, who is not involved in the case, emphasized that the judge still has the discretion to impose a term of years and that a life sentence without parole is not inevitable. Crumbley pleaded guilty to murder, terrorism, and other charges. On the day of the shooting, the teenager and his parents met with school staff after a teacher discovered disturbing drawings. However, no one checked his backpack for a weapon, and he was allowed to remain on campus.
The defense argued that Crumbley was caught in a downward spiral in the fall of 2021 due to severe neglect by his parents, who even purchased a gun and took him to a shooting range. While a psychologist referred to him as a “feral child,” Judge Rowe disagreed. Defense attorney Paulette Michel Loftin believes that Crumbley should have a chance at parole once his “sick brain” is treated through counseling and rehabilitation.
Rowe, however, remains unconvinced at this stage, stating that the likelihood of rehabilitation is slim. The judge highlighted that the shooter “continues to be fixated on violence and could not control this obsession even while incarcerated.” Notably, he violated jail rules by accessing violent content on an electronic device while in custody.
“As the defendant’s own expert has stated, if he is to be rehabilitated, he must be the one who desires change,” Rowe asserted. “There is no evidence before the court that he wants to change.” The shooter’s journal entries, where he expressed a desire to witness the suffering of students and his anticipation of spending life in prison, are not disputed. He also recorded a video on his phone the night before the shooting outlining his plans.
The victims of the Oxford High School shooting were Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, Hana St. Juliana, and Justin Shilling. Additionally, six students and a teacher sustained injuries in the attack. In a separate case, the teenager’s parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, are facing charges of involuntary manslaughter for making a firearm accessible at home and disregarding their son’s mental well-being.
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