PONTIAC, Mich. — On Thursday, a judge denied the request from a Michigan school shooter to retract his guilty plea concerning multiple charges, which include acts of terrorism and first-degree murder.

Ethan Crumbley’s lawyers, focusing on his mental health and other circumstances, sought to have the plea overturned. At the age of 16, he chose to forgo a trial and admitted guilt for the deaths of four students at Oxford High School in 2021.

Judge Kwame Rowe of Oakland County asserted that Crumbley’s plea was given “knowingly, voluntarily, and accurately.”
The judge also refused to dismiss the life sentence imposed on Crumbley.

Prosecutor Karen McDonald commented on the ruling, stating that these decisions align with the law and allow the focus to remain on the victims, their families, and the goal of preventing future tragedies.

Crumbly, who is currently 18 years old, was just 15 when he brought a firearm to school, resulting in the death of four students and injuries to others.

On the day of the shooting, his parents were called to the school to address violent sketches and disturbing comments included in his math assignment. Despite this, they did not take him home, nor did they examine his backpack for any weapons.

James and Jennifer Crumbley are serving prison sentences of 10 years for involuntary manslaughter, having been accused of making a firearm too accessible in their home while neglecting their son’s mental health issues.
They have made history as the first parents in the United States to face conviction for their child’s role in an act of school violence.