A teenager accused of killing four students at a Michigan high school shooting last year is expected to plead guilty.
Prosecutors said Ethan Crumbley, 16, will accept the charges on Monday, having previously pleaded not guilty in January, the Associated Press reported. Crumbley, then 15, opened fire at Oxford High School, where he attended, on 30 November 2021, killing four students and injuring several more.
“We can confirm that the shooter is expected to plead guilty to all 24 charges, including terrorism and the prosecutor has notified the victims,” Oakland county chief assistant prosecutor David Williams said in a statement.
Killed in the shooting were Madisyn Baldwin, 17; Hana St Juliana, 14; Justin Shilling, 17; and Tate Myre, 16. Six other students and a teacher were injured during the violence.
Following the shooting, Crumbley’s parents were charged with involuntary manslaughter for buying their son the gun he used in the massacre. They were also accused of ignoring multiple warning signs about his disturbing behaviour and poor mental health in the lead-up to the shooting.
On the day of the violence, James and Jennifer Crumbley, had been asked to go to the high school to talk about their son’s behaviour after a teacher found his drawing of a gun pointing at the words, “The thoughts won’t stop. Help me.”
They refused to take him home and were asked to get Crumbley counselling within 48 hours, the AP reported.
The day before the shooting, a teacher emailed the school’s Dean of Students and Assistant Principal Nicholas Ejak and another official named Pam Fine that she found Crumbley looking at bullets on his phone.
When Ms Crumbley was notified that her son was searching for ammunition online, she allegedly answered: “Lol. I’m not mad at you. You have to learn not to get caught.”
Prosecutors argue that Crumbley’s parents “created an environment in which their son’s violent tendencies flourished.” The couple pleaded not guilty.
Crumbley is charged with four counts of first-degree murder, terrorism causing death, seven counts of attempted murder and 12 counts of use of a gun.
