The Michigan Court of Appeals issued a ruling siding with the Oxford school district in a lawsuit related to a shooting incident in 2021 that left four students dead and others injured. The court’s 3-0 decision stated that there was no evidence presented by the families’ lawyers that proved Oxford staff were the main cause of the tragedy. Despite concerns raised about the shooter, Ethan Crumbley, and a meeting with his parents on the day of the shooting, it was determined that the teenager himself decided to bring a gun to Oxford High School.

The appeals court backed a previous ruling that invoked governmental immunity, which is a significant legal protection in Michigan for public entities and employees. To overcome this immunity in lawsuits, lawyers usually need to demonstrate gross negligence. The law firm representing the families of the victims indicated they plan to appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court. Another lawsuit related to the incident is ongoing in federal court.

Ethan Crumbley, who was 15 years old at the time, is currently serving a life sentence in prison. His parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, are each serving 10-year sentences for involuntary manslaughter. Prosecutors argued that they disregarded their son’s mental health needs, gifted him a gun, and failed to secure it properly. Prior to the shooting, Ethan had sketched troubling images and phrases on a math paper, which led school officials to summon his parents for a meeting, where they chose not to take him home. Notably, no one, including the parents and school staff, checked the teenager’s backpack for a weapon.