Suspected Michigan School Shooter Charged With Terrorism, Four Counts of Murder
19:27 GMT 01.12.2021 (Updated: 22:24 GMT 01.12.2021)
© REUTERS / Seth Herald
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Four teenage students are dead after a gunman opened fire at Oxford High School in Oxford, Michigan, on Tuesday. The suspect, a 15-year-old sophomore enrolled at the school, is in police custody after he allegedly fired more than 30 shots from a 9mm semi-automatic handgun.
The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office announced on Wednesday that the 15-year-old suspect has been charged with one count of terrorism causing death; four counts of first-degree murder; seven counts of assault with intent to murder; and 12 counts of firearm possession in the commission of a felony.
A Michigan judge has ordered that the suspect, identified as Ethan Crumbley, be held without bond. Crumbley has pleaded not guilty to the charges of murder and terrorism, according to the teen suspect's lawyer.
Evidence recovered from the crime scene suggests "this was not just an impulsive act," noted Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald during a Wednesday news conference.
She also asked that the victims, 14-year-old Hana St. Juliana; 16-year-old Tate Myre; 17-year-old Madisyn Baldwin; and 17-year-old Justin Shilling, who died from injuries sustained during the shooting spree, be remembered.
Additional charges may be leveled against the 15-year-old.
BREAKING: 15-year-old suspect for the Oxford High School shooting in Michigan will be charged as an adult for counts including first-degree murder and terrorism causing death https://t.co/UBAj46j5cj pic.twitter.com/SnAcJ6pNDh
— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 1, 2021
McDonald is also considering bringing charges against Crumbley's parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley.
Earlier on Wednesday, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard declared that the suspect was shooting to kill.
"He was shooting people at close range oftentimes towards the head or chest," the Sheriff told reporters. "It’s just absolutely cold-hearted murderous."
He also noted that 30 shell casings were recovered by the forensics team.
According to Bouchard, Crumbley had posted photos of a 9mm Sig Sauer that authorities believe was used to carry out the attack.
Ethan Crumbley, only 15, is identified as the accused shooter who killed four classmates at a Michigan high school. He had posted on Instagram just days ago a photo of his father’s gun, pretending it was his. Yet this didn’t raise any red flags? Sirens should have been blaring. pic.twitter.com/ySLdrdgPuq
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) December 1, 2021
The 15-year--old had posted footage of him firing the gun prior to the Tuesday shooting. While some reports have suggested that Crumbley may have been bullied prior to the incident, authorities have not determined a motive and the teenage suspect was reportedly not cooperative with authorities upon arrest.
If convicted, Crumbley faces up to life imprisonment.
