Michigan teenager pleads guilty to murder, terrorism charges in Oxford High School shooting

PONTIAC, Mich. – The 16-year-old charged with killing four students at Oxford High School in November of last year pleaded guilty Monday to first-degree murder and terrorism charges.

In a packed Michigan courtroom filled with victims' grieving families, Ethan Crumbley took responsibility for the murders of his classmates – Tate Myre, 16; Madisyn Baldwin, 17; Hana St. Juliana, 14; and Justin Shilling, 17 – and the injuries he caused to seven others who were struck by his bullets.

Crumbley, who has been locked up since the mass killing 11 months ago, showed no emotion as he delivered his guilty plea on 24 charges, offering only brief details about how he plotted to take a gun to school to kill his classmates.

"Is it your own choice to plead guilty?" Oakland County Circuit Judge Kwamé Rowe asked him.

"Yes, sir," he responded.

Crumbley, who was 15 at the time of the killing, then admitted that he deliberately shot and killed the students with his 9 mm handgun – confirming what he wrote in his journal one day before the tragedy. 

In January, Crumbley pleaded not guilty and his lawyers notified the court they planned to pursue an insanity defense, according to court filings. On Monday, his attorney Paulette Michel Loftin said after that such defenses are difficult and that her client opted instead to plead guilty.

Wolf Mueller, a lawyer representing two victim families in civil cases, said the guilty plea was a relief.

"It saves them from having to relive in court in public all the trauma and harm that they've experienced over the last year," he said.

What happened the day of the shooting?

On the morning of Nov. 30, 2021, Crumbley's parents were summoned to school to discuss his disturbing behavior. He had been researching bullets online during class the day before and he drew a violent picture of guns, a bullet and blood.

James and Jennifer Crumbley said they would get him counseling but declined to take him home. Crumbley's parents didn't check their son's backpack for the gun, which he had brought with him. Later that day, he exited a boy's bathroom and opened fire.

About five minutes after an active shooter announcement was made over the school intercom, the suspect was arrested without incident in a school hallway.

'Intent to kill': A timeline of deadly shooting at Oxford High School

Crumbley contradicts parents' claims that gun was locked

James and Jennifer Crumbley are charged with involuntary manslaughter for allegedly buying their son the gun that police say was used in the shooting.

Prosecutors have alleged that Ethan Crumbley carried out his crime after long suffering from mental health issues that his parents failed to address. On Monday, Crumbley dropped a bombshell that may hurt his parents in their separate criminal case, telling the judge that the gun he used in the shooting was easily accessible.

"It was not locked," he said in court, contradicting his parents' claims that the gun was properly stored in a secure area.

Also during his plea Monday, Crumbley told the judge that he asked his dad to buy him a gun and that he gave him his own money to pay for it – though the parents have long maintained that they had no idea he would use the gun to carry out a mass shooting.

Loftin said Crumbley could be called to testify against them. She said they’re under a no-contact order, and he has not spoken to his parents.

BACKGROUND: Oxford suspect's parents face rare charges, experts explain 

Crumbley faces life in prison

Crumbley faces life in prison for the 24 counts with which he was charged, including first-degree murder, terrorism causing death, homicide and assault with intent to murder.

"You understand the maximum penalties you face here ...  life in prison, without parole," the judge asked him.

"Yes, sir," Crumbley responded from the lectern.

Hearings will begin on Feb. 9 to determine if Crumbley will be sentenced to life without parole or get a shorter sentence due to his age. It is unclear whether pleading guilty will earn Crumbley any leniency or help his parents' case. He also could be sentenced to repay the government expenses.

His lawyer, Loftin, told reporters after the hearing that Crumbley is "taking accountability for his actions" saying her client is remorseful for what he did.

"We have to all remember he is a 16-year-old boy, so a very scary situation today to be in front of a number of cameras, hear the clicking, to be appearing in front of a judge," Loftin said, later adding: "It is an extremely emotional day. I don't think there are any words that could make (the victims' families) feel better."

Civil lawsuits against the school district

There are several lawsuits pending against the school district.

Shortly after the shooting, attorney Geoffrey Fieger filed a $100 million lawsuit on behalf of sisters and survivors, Riley Franz, a senior, and Bella Franz, a freshman.

Attorney Ven Johnson is representing several parents of shooting victims in multiple civil lawsuits against school district officials that claim Oxford employees acted negligently in failing to intervene and stop the alleged shooter.

In August, Johnson said that surveillance video showed a security officer at Oxford High opening the door of a bathroom where Crumbley was still carrying out his attack. The guard, Johnson said, closed the door and walked away.

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Contributing: Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press; The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ethan Crumbley pleads guilty to murder in Oxford High School shooting