The suspected Oxford High School shooter accused of killing four students and injuring seven others appeared in court Thursday morning, during which the judge set dates for future hearings, including the accused’s trial.
The judge on Thursday set a tentative trial date for Ethan Crumbley for Sept. 6, 2022.
Crumbley, who is facing 24 charges as an adult in connection with the fatal mass shooting, has been lodged at the Oakland County Jail since the Nov. 30 tragedy. The 15-year-old’s lawyer has attempted to relocate him to a juvenile detention facility while awaiting trial, but an Oakland County judge denied that request in March and ordered the accused shooter to remain in jail.
Prosecutors said Crumbley would be a “menace” to other juveniles at the juvenile facility, and that he can be effectively and safely held at the jail. The judge’s decision to keep the teen at the Oakland County Jail must be revisited every 30 days.
The judge on Thursday elected to uphold the court’s previous ruling to continue lodging Crumbley at the jail. The suspected shooter will appear in court next on May 19 to revisit the lodging arrangements.
The teen is accused of opening fire during school hours on Nov. 30, 2021, wounding six students and a teacher, and fatally striking four students: 14-year-old Hana St. Juliana, 16-year-old Tate Myre, 17-year-old Madisyn Baldwin and 17-year-old Justin Shilling. Crumbley is facing 24 felony charges as an adult, including:
- One count of terrorism causing death;
- Four counts of first-degree murder;
- Seven counts of assault with intent to murder; and
- 12 counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
The teen was denied bond during his arraignment. His lawyer entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. A court filing in January revealed that Crumbley “intends to assert the defense of insanity at the time of the alleged offense and gives notice of his intention to claim such a defense.”
The suspected shooter appeared in court for a hearing at the end of March. It was then revealed that a psychiatric evaluation of Crumbley had been completed, but results were not yet available.
Prosecutors and attorneys on Thursday said they had received results from the psychiatric evaluation, but did not share those results with the public.
More: Who is responsible for getting accused Oxford school shooter an education while behind bars?
Crumbley’s parents, who are both facing four counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the mass shooting, also appeared in court this week as their attorneys attempt to get their bonds lowered. A judge on Tuesday denied to lower the bond for James and Jennifer Crumbley -- which is set at $500,000 each -- saying, “the defendants’ own actions leading up to their arrest make the current bond appropriate.”
During the Crumbley parents’ preliminary examination hearing in February, witness accounts revealed new details and gave new perspective about events leading up to and following the fatal mass shooting.