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The evening prior to the shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan where four students were killed and seven others were injured, Ethan Crumbley predicted the bloody events that would unfold.
During a court hearing on July 27, two audio recordings were played in which Crumbley can be heard bragging about attempting to harm as many students as possible and expressing pleasure in doing so.
In one recording, he says, “I am Ethan Crumbley, 15 years old, and I will be the next school shooter.”
“I have given this a great deal of consideration. It continues to occupy my thoughts incessantly.”
In a follow-up recording, he states: “Tomorrow is going to be extremely enjoyable.”
At the age of 15, Crumbley admitted guilt to one charge of causing death through terrorism, four charges of first-degree murder, and 19 additional charges related to the mass shooting that occurred on November 30, 2021.
Despite the deliberate and abhorrent nature of his offenses, it was not a guaranteed outcome that Crumbley would be sentenced to life without the chance of parole. However, on December 8th, he was ultimately given this punishment.
Jennifer and James Crumbley, the parents of Crumbley, have entered a plea of not guilty to four charges of involuntary manslaughter related to the shooting.
“I desire for my actions to be heard by America.”
During the court proceedings, Lt. Timothy Willis, the lead investigator, shared excerpts from Crumbley’s 22-page journal that was written by hand by the teenager. These excerpts revealed a disturbing glimpse into Crumbley’s mental state leading up to the shooting.
“I have a strong desire to commit a school shooting,” Crumbley wrote in one of the journal entries that was found in his backpack in a school bathroom following the shooting.
The initial target should be a young, promising woman, so she can experience the same pain as I have.
“I desire for America to be aware of my actions,” he expressed in writing. “I will initiate the biggest school shooting in the state. I long to hear the cries of the children as I harm them.”
2021
On July 27, 2021, Ethan Crumbley appeared in court.
(Associated Press)
Crumbley detailed his plan for the shooting, stating that he would continue to harm individuals until law enforcement entered the building. He also mentioned that he intended to turn himself in and confess to a life sentence in prison.
In the days preceding the murders, Crumbley researched the death penalty in Michigan and prison terms for individuals who are 15 years old.
During the audio recordings, he described his deteriorating life and the resentment he held towards the world. He also expressed his desire to teach other students a message.
“I plan to follow someone and shoot them in the head, making them my first victim,” he declared. “Then I will continue to shoot at everyone in the hallway, with the intention of hitting as many as possible. I will reload and seek out those who are hiding, to show them the error of their ways and how they have been manipulated.”
According to CNN, Crumbley glanced at the desk while the audio played.
The defense attorney, Paulette Michel Loftin, recited a different section of the journal as proof of Crumbley’s declining mental state.
“I am aware of the presence of evil around me and even dogs are able to sense it. … I do not want to possess any evil intentions,” stated Crumbley.
“I am seeking assistance, but my parents are not receptive to my needs, leaving me unable to receive any help. I feel trapped in a cycle of sadness.”
Ms. Loftin contended that Crumbley was not beyond repair in terms of moral corruption.
During the trial, evidence of text conversations between Crumbley and an unidentified friend were presented. In these messages, Crumbley detailed the horrific acts of torturing and killing baby birds.
Disturbing red flags
According to prosecutors, James Crumbley bought the Sig Sauer 9mm firearm used in the shooting at a gun shop in Oxford the weekend before it occurred.
According to prosecutors, Jennifer Crumbley, the mother of the accused, shared on social media over the weekend that they were spending a day testing out her son’s new Christmas gift.
Earlier court proceedings have revealed concerning information regarding possible warning signs that were overlooked by school administrators.
According to prosecutors, on November 29th, a teacher discovered that Crumbley was looking for ammunition online. The school reached out to Crumbley’s parents via phone and email, but they did not respond.
The couple of James and Jennifer Crumbley are facing charges for involuntary manslaughter.
The office of the Sheriff of Oakland County
According to reports, Jennifer Crumbley supposedly messaged her son on that particular day, stating: “I’m not angry with you. You need to learn how to avoid getting caught.”
A teacher discovered a picture on Crumbley’s desk during the shooting that portrayed a school massacre.
According to prosecutors, the image displayed a semi-automatic pistol aimed at the phrase “the thoughts won’t stop help me.” Additionally, it featured a sketch of a bullet with the words “blood everywhere” written above it.
The phrases “I have no purpose in life” and “everything is hopeless” were also accompanied by a laughing emoji.
The school officials asked Crumbley and his parents to attend a disciplinary meeting that day, during which they were advised to seek counseling. According to prosecutors, Crumbley had the weapon in his backpack during the meeting.
The counselors were content with his statement that the doodles were simply concepts for a video game and that his bag and locker were not inspected.
Crumbley’s parents had a disagreement about him being removed from school, but he ultimately went back to attending classes.
The sequence of events during the shooting.
The school’s surveillance video captured Crumbley going into a bathroom with a backpack at 12:51pm and exiting about a minute later.
According to prosecutors, the suspect proceeded to walk through the school hallway in a methodical and deliberate manner, firing into classrooms and at students attempting to escape. A total of 30 shots were determined to have been fired based on the recovered shell casings.
The police responded to over 100 911 calls from frightened students and quickly arrived at the location.
Later, students revealed to CNN that they equipped themselves with scissors in order to defend themselves.
According to Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, Crumbley was caught within two to three minutes of the officers’ arrival.
The backpack of Ethan Crumbley was found in a bathroom at Oxford High School.
(Associated Press)
At the location, Madisyn Baldwin, 17, and Hana St. Juliana, 14, were declared deceased.
According to reports, 16-year-old Tate Myre, a well-liked member of the school’s football team, tried to take away the shooter’s weapon but unfortunately passed away from his injuries while being transported to the hospital in a police car.
The next day, 17-year-old Justin Shilling passed away in the hospital.
Court hearing, charges of terrorism, and legal action
In early December 2021, Crumbley appeared in court and was charged as an adult with 24 offenses, including terrorism and murder.
His parents were accused of involuntary manslaughter on December 3rd. The following day, they were apprehended in Detroit by US Marshalls for not showing up in court.
After a Michigan court of appeals determined there was sufficient evidence against them in March, they were instructed to face trial.
After two weeks from the shooting, lawyers representing two sisters who were victims of the mass shooting have filed a $100 million lawsuit against the school district. They accuse the district of deleting social media accounts and removing administrators from the school website while the investigation is ongoing.
Attorney Nora Hanna stated in the court document, obtained by the Detroit Free Press, that the defendants not only neglected to take necessary actions to safeguard the evidence, but also intentionally destroyed it by deleting their webpages and social media accounts.
The defendants should not surprise the plaintiffs by making them search for evidence that has been destroyed or changed.
The school district’s lawyer referred to the accusations as a “revolting” falsehood.
In January 2022, survivors submitted a revised legal claim against the school principal and other administrators, accusing them of “extreme carelessness” which resulted in “severe and lasting physical and emotional harm”.
In October 2022, Crumbley admitted guilt for all charges.
In June, the prosecuting attorneys stated that the adolescent had been displaying irregular and troubling conduct while in jail.
The aftermath
On February 13, 2023, a shooter carrying an AR-15-style gun fatally shot three students and injured at least five others during a shooting at Michigan State University.
Some of the students in lockdown included traumatized individuals who had survived the shooting at Oxford High School.
Jennifer Mancini shared with the Detroit Free Press that her daughter was deeply affected by the shooting, as she had previously lost two dear friends in the Oxford school shooting.
Ms. Mancini reported to the Free Press that the woman said she was unable to comprehend that this was occurring once more.
Two other students from MSU had managed to survive both of the shootings.
At the sentencing hearing, Crumbley addresses the court as the judge imposes a life sentence.
On December 8th, at an Oakland County courtroom, family members of the four students who lost their lives at Oxford High School on November 30th, 2021 shared heart-wrenching victim impact statements in an emotionally charged hearing.
The life sentence without the chance for parole was imposed by Judge Kwamé Rowe.
Due to Crumbley’s age of 15 during the shooting, there was a chance he could have been given a reduced sentence of 25 to 40 years, which would have allowed him to be considered for release by the state parole board.
Crumbley spoke in court and expressed remorse to the families of the victims, while also requesting the judge to give a sentence that the survivors believed was appropriate. He stated that he was attempting to improve and had already made some progress, displaying regret for the four lives he ended and the many others he affected.
Crumbley stated that his only desire is for those he has harmed to feel a sense of justice, even if it is in a way they can understand. He asks that any punishment they request be given to him, as he wants them to be content and at ease. He does not want them to have any further concerns.
“I sincerely apologize for my actions and the harm I have caused to others. While I cannot undo the past, I am committed to making amends by helping others in the future.”
The lawyers representing him had previously attempted to make the case that Crumbley could potentially benefit from rehabilitation and the possibility of being released in many years. However, Judge Rowe stated that the evidence indicated that Crumbley intentionally carried out the attack with the intention of causing harm and gaining notoriety as a “mass shooter.”
Judge Rowe stated that the court cannot disregard the fact that the defendant has a fixation on violence. The incident in question required thorough preparation and investigation, and the defendant followed through with every detail of his plan.
The judge also spoke to the victims present in the courtroom.
“The court’s imposed sentence cannot bring back your loved one or heal the mental and physical wounds that some of you have endured,” he stated. “However, I hope that this sentence will bring closure to this chapter in your life.”
Crumbley showed no emotion and looked down at the table while the families of those affected by the attack recounted the terrifying events they went through during the shooting.
Source: the-independent.com
