Ethan Crumbley, a name you must have heard associated with the mass shooting case at Oxford. This article discusses all the important details of the ongoing trial of Ethan Crumbley and his parents that you ought to know
Who Is Ethan Crumbley?
15-year-old Ethan Crumbley is alleged to have opened fire at Oxford High School, killing four students and injuring numerous more. According to CNN’s reporting, both of his parents face four charges of involuntary manslaughter for the same occurrence. A not-guilty plea has been entered by all three.
What Is The Mass Shooting Case All About?
On the afternoon of November 30, 2021, a mass shooting took place at Oxford High School in Oxford Township, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. Four pupils and one instructor were murdered, while seven others were wounded. Ethan Crumbley, a student at a high school, was detained and charged as an adult with 24 offenses, including murder and terrorism.
He had a 9mm semiautomatic pistol and, acting alone, fired around 15-20 bullets inside the school. The investigation revealed that Crumbley’s father had acquired the rifle in November.
Supposed suspect Ethan Crumbley was shown on surveillance film carrying a backpack into a restroom before emerging from the facility one minute later armed with a semiautomatic weapon. Following this, prosecutors and school officials said that Crumbley opened fire in the corridor at kids during passing time, when hundreds of students were moving between classes. When the kids began to leave, he strolled down the corridor, shooting into classrooms and at students who were trapped until he went to another restroom. Gunshots were heard, but students and teachers reacted promptly, preventing Crumbley from entering any classrooms.
According to reports from children, a voice came over the intercom and warned of an active shooter, prompting instructors to begin barricading exits and covering windows. Some witnesses reported hearing loud bangs and assumed that there were gunshots, prompting them to shut the door. The cocking of a rifle could be heard from outside the stall where one pupil had taken refuge. After locking down the school, he went inside the restroom and saw six people dead on the floor.
Within two to three minutes of the first response, a deputy assigned as a school resource officer and a second deputy arrived on the scene and arrested Crumbley.
At the time he was detained by the deputies, he allegedly still had seven bullets in his rifle and two 15-round magazines in his possession
The campus went into lockdown after the shooting. The ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate) active shooter drill was practiced at Oxford High School. This drill teaches students to take preventative measures in the event of a shooting, such as making noise to distract the shooter and getting out of the shooter’s line of sight. Nightlock, a bottom-mounted barrier put on all school doors in 2017 in accordance with Michigan legislation, was also the subject of teacher training.
Ethan Crumbley’s Parents’ Involvement
The trial of Ethan Crumbley’s parents for their alleged participation in the mass killings had begun in the fall as well. In October, a court heard the case against Jennifer and James Crumbley for involuntary manslaughter based on what prosecutors call reckless conduct. According to the prosecution, the Crumbley failed to aid their mentally ill son and instead gave him a pistol, which authorities believe he used in the slaughter on November 30.
The Crumbley and their son have all entered not-guilty pleas. A gag order keeps the three of them apart in the Oakland County Jail.
The Ongoing Behaviour Of Ethan Crumbley
Authorities have released several alarming pieces of information about the “senseless” and “brutal” shooting, including the fact that Crumbley had been reprimanded for “concerning” behavior in the classroom before. Sheriff Mike Bouchard informed reporters that on the day of the incident, the teen’s parents had been contacted by the school but he stayed there. Whatever caused concern among school administrators, detectives think the weapon was already on campus.
The sheriff stated, “There is nothing that he could have faced that would warrant senseless, absolutely brutal violence on other kids,”
Role Of Instagram In The Shooting
Several screenshots that purport to be from Ethan Crumbley’s Instagram account have gone viral. Since the social media platforms have removed the accounts, none of the screenshots can be independently verified. When news of mass shooters emerges, tech giants like Google and Facebook erased accounts linked with them.
There is one very striking screenshot showing a guy who is likely to be Crumbley carrying a firearm. A 9mm Sig Sauer, according to the caption. The caption read, “Just got my new beauty today.” According to ABC News, investigators have determined that the Crumbley was armed with a 9mm Sig Sauer. According to the account, his dad bought the gun recently. This may be the murder weapon seen in the screenshot.
Users on other platforms have claimed that Crumbley announced the countdown on his Instagram stories. At midnight on the day of the massacre, the countdown clock stopped. The name on the unconfirmed post appears to be his, however, there are contradictory claims as to what his Instagram username was, and numerous profiles have been formed recently that look to be faked.
The Ongoing Trial
After Ethan Crumbley’s arrest, he was arraigned by a magistrate on accusations of murder and attempted murder. More charges were added as the investigation progressed, but he was charged with terrorism resulting in death, first-degree murder, assault with intent to murder, and possession of a handgun during the commission of a felony. The arrest of Ethan Crumbley’s parents, Jennifer and James Crumbley was announced and hours later, state officials announced that the family had fled the region. However, they were found and arrested.
The trial is surrounded by a lot of controversies and has become complicated. Another issue in the trial is the delays. The trial was initiated in December 2021. After multiple hearings, the trial is now pushed to 17 January 2023. The trial will begin at 8:30 am. Crumbley is a minor, so every month he has to go before Judge Kwame Rowe to see if he should continue to serve time in the Oakland County Jail. Crumbley is incarcerated and attending GED programs because of the seriousness of his alleged offenses.
Status Of Ethan Crubley’s Parents’ Trial
The court proceedings for Ethan Crumbley’s parents are concurrent with those of their son. Both James and Jennifer Crumbley are facing involuntary manslaughter charges. The parents are being blamed for their son’s condition because they allegedly gave him access to a firearm and ignored his mental health issues. They are requesting a change of venue and the exclusion of certain materials.
