On Friday, two years after he walked into Oxford High School with a gun in his backpack and fatally shot four students, Ethan Crumbley was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The Michigan school shooter, now 17, addressed an Oakland County courtroom for the first time and apologized for his actions before Judge Kwame Rowe delivered the sentence.
“I am a really bad person … I have hurt many people,” Crumbley said on Friday. “I want my peers to feel safe and secure. I am sorry for what I have done.”
Crumbley’s apology came after a heart-wrenching hearing that included testimonies from victims and their families. The now-17-year-old pleaded guilty last month to 24 counts, including four counts of first-degree murder, for the shootings that occurred on Nov. 30, 2021.
On that day, Crumbley, then 15, met with school staff and his parents before walking into the school and killing 16-year-old Tate Myre, 16-year-old Justin Shilling, 14-year-old Hana St. Juliana, and 17-year-old Madisyn Baldwin. Seven others were injured in the shooting spree.
During the hearing on Friday, Crumbley’s defense attorneys argued that their client had shown signs of severe mental illness for years prior to the shooting and that his parents and school officials did nothing to help him. They also pointed out that Crumbley has engaged in therapy and willingly takes medication.
However, prosecutors presented evidence that demonstrated otherwise. They argued that Crumbley had extensively planned the shooting, researched the firearm he needed, and even went to the shooting range to practice. Video footage from the school also showed Crumbley walking up to victims and shooting them at point-blank range.
Judge Rowe agreed with the prosecutors’ arguments, calling the shooter’s actions “torture” and an “execution.” He also referred to the shooting as “terrorism,” making it the first criminal case in the country where a defendant has been charged and convicted of terrorism resulting from a mass shooting.
One by one, the victims’ family members took the stand and asked for a life sentence without parole for Crumbley. Buck Myre, father of Tate Myre, expressed that his family is still struggling to cope with the loss of their son and the aftermath of the shooting. Madisyn Baldwin’s mother, Nicole Beausoleil, directly addressed Crumbley, saying that his “suffering will come” when he “least expects it.”
In his own statement, Craig Shilling, father of Justin Shilling, said that his son, an organ donor, has saved five lives after the shooting.
Crumbley’s sentencing comes as his parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, face four counts of involuntary manslaughter for allegedly purchasing the firearm used in their son’s rampage. Jennifer had even posted on social media that the gun was a Christmas present for their son. Their trials are set to begin in January.
As the community of Oxford, Michigan, continues to heal from this tragic incident, attorney Ven Johnson, who represents several families in lawsuits against the Crumbley family and Oxford Community Schools, expressed his support for the court’s decision.
“Our dedication to pursuing justice stands resolute … our work to keep Oxford Community Schools accountable will persist,” Johnson said.
As Judge Rowe handed down the sentence, Crumbley expressed remorse for his actions and specifically stated that his parents are not to blame for what happened. He also acknowledged that he had not told them about his plan.
“We are all here because of me today. Because of what I did,” Crumbley said. “I could not stop myself.”