The teen accused of opening fire at Oxford High School and killing four students and injuring several others appeared in court Monday for a probable cause conference.
Ethan Crumbley, 15, is facing 24 charges in connection with the Nov. 30 mass shooting. Authorities say Crumbley fired several rounds from a 9 mm pistol in the halls of the high school, fatally striking four teens and injuring six students and a teacher. The sophomore student was promptly arraigned following the shooting, and has been held at the Oakland County Jail without bond since.
Crumbley appeared for the probable cause hearing virtually through Zoom. The hearing was adjourned and rescheduled for Jan. 7 to give attorneys more time to review what they described as a large amount of evidence before a preliminary exam.
Crumbley’s defense argued Monday that he should be moved back to an Oakland County juvenile detention facility because he could hear adult inmates inside the jail. However, Judge Nancy Carniak denied the request and maintained that he should be kept in the jail with adults because of the nature of the charges. The prosecutor agreed to speak with the Sheriff’s Office to make sure the juvenile inmate could not hear any adult inmates while housed at the jail.
Prosecuting attorney Marc Keast also argued that the juvenile detention facility, Children’s Village, is not secure enough for an inmate such as Crumbley who is accused of premeditated violent acts against fellow juveniles. Keast repeated that video of the shooting clearly shows Crumbley committing the horrific murders inside the school.
A not guilty plea has been entered on behalf of Crumbley for each of the following charges:
- One count of terrorism causing death
- Four counts of first-degree murder
- Seven counts of assault with intent to murder
- 12 counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony
The gunfire killed Oxford High School students Madisyn Baldwin, 17, Tate Myre, 16, Hana St. Juliana, 14, and Justin Shilling, 17. Only one of the seven people injured in the shooting remained in the hospital as of Dec. 9: a 17-year-old girl at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. Police said last week that the girl was removed from the intensive-care unit and into a standard room, where she will remain for 4-6 weeks for rehabilitation.
The parents of Ethan Crumbley -- James Crumbley, 45, and Jennifer Crumbley, 43 -- are also facing charges in connection with the shooting. Officials accuse the parents of contributing to the tragedy by giving their son a semi-automatic handgun and ignoring his cries for help, which were reportedly indicated by a violent drawing he sketched in class shortly before the shooting inside Oxford High School.
Both James and Jennifer Crumbley have pleaded not guilty to four counts of involuntary manslaughter. They are also being housed at the Oakland County Jail, but apart from their son and each other, officials say.
Read more: Parents of Oxford shooting suspect plead not guilty to involuntary manslaughter charges
In addition to criminal charges issued in connection with the shooting, civil litigation is starting to crop up against the school district and its administrators and staff regarding their alleged role in the tragedy.