PONTIAC, MI – Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald believes a teenager who allegedly shot 11 people, killing four, should spend his life behind bars for planning to murder his classmates.
McDonald publicly identified the sophomore Oxford High School student who was arrested on Wednesday and announced a litany of charges she will seek against him. One charge stands out: terrorism causing death. McDonald acknowledged Michigan’s anti-terrorism laws are rarely applied, showing the severity of the crime 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley is accused of.
“This has touched all of us so deeply as a community and on a personal level,” McDonald said. “As we look at our own families and imagine the unthinkable, hitting home. I want to express my deepest condolences to the families, friends and loved ones of the victims.”
Four teens were killed in the Wednesday shooting: 17-year-old Madisyn Baldwin, 16-year-old Tate Myre, 17-year-old Justin Shilling and 14-year-old Hanna St. Juliana. McDonald is charging the alleged shooter with first-degree murder for each victim.
The prosecutor is also charging him with seven counts of assault with intent to murder for those injured in the attack, and 12 counts of a firearm in the commission of a felony. McDonald said the shooting was an “unspeakable” act that also harmed the community at large.
“What about all these other children?” McDonald said. “What about all the children who ran, screaming, hiding under desks? What about all the children at home right now who can’t eat and can’t sleep, and can’t imagine a world where they could ever step back foot back in that school? Those are victims too, and so are their families and so is the community. The charge of terrorism reflects that.”
Few details about the alleged shooter’s motivations have been released to the public. McDonald said the case is sensitive, and she has an ethical obligation not to jeopardize any of the charges or cast doubt on whether the trial is fair.
“If that happened, that would be tragic for the families of these victims,” McDonald said.
The prosecutor declined to comment on the veracity of social media accounts linked to the alleged shooter. One Instagram account that has since been taken down includes several posts with dark content and posts where the user brandishes a new Sig Sauer handgun.
Authorities said the weapon used was a 9mm Sig Sauer SP 2022 pistol. The firearm was purchased by the suspect’s father four days before the killings, on Black Friday, according to police.
McDonald said investigators have compiled a “mountain” of digital evidence pulled from social media. The available evidence suggests Crumbley planned the killings “well before” the incident, she said. First-degree murder charges require a prosecutor to prove the accused person premeditated the murder.
“I am absolutely sure after reviewing the evidence that it isn’t even a close call,” McDonald said. “It was absolutely premeditated.”
Reporters questioned whether McDonald suggested the alleged shooter specifically targeted students or had planned to kill at random. She declined to say.
Another key question that remains unanswered is how the alleged shooter came into possession of a firearm. McDonald said additional charges are being considered for Crumbley’s parents.
McDonald referenced the importance of responsible gun ownership several times during the press conference but declined to additional provide details.
While McDonald said victims and the community deserves answers, the announcement of charges marks the start of the legal process. Additional charges could be brought against Crumbley or his parents based on how the investigation continues, she said.
“I think about those parents who say goodbye to their children on their way to school, not ever contemplating that they wouldn’t be safe there,” McDonald said. “They were not engaging in any risky behavior. They were innocent children who went to school ... We’re going to receive justice for these victims. And hopefully, we’re going to start a long-going conversation and move the needle on appropriate gun control.”
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