Oxford High School shooting: Teen gunman pleads guilty

The teen gunman who opened fire at Oxford High School in southeastern Michigan last year has pleaded guilty to all 24 charges he faced.

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Ethan Crumbley, 16, entered the guilty plea in court Monday morning, The Associated Press reported.

Crumbley was facing one count of terrorism and four counts of first-degree murder, among other charges, in the shooting that left four students dead, CNN reported.

Six other students and a teacher were hurt in the shooting, CNN reported.

Some of the victims’ relatives were in the courtroom Monday as Crumbley answered “yes” to questions posed to him, the AP reported.

Prosecutors said a deal had not been made to secure the guilty plea. First-degree murder typically brings an automatic life sentence in Michigan, but teenagers who are convicted of the charge can have a hearing in which their attorneys can request a shorter term with the possibility of parole, the AP reported.

A sentencing hearing is set for Feb. 9.

Crumbley had planned to have an insanity defense as part of the plea but withdrew it. He also said that he understood his fate by entering the guilty plea.

Crumbley had no history of discipline issues at Oxford High School, located about 30 miles north of Detroit.

The day before the shooting, Jennifer Crumbley, Ethan Crumbley’s mother, was contacted by the school after her son was seen searching for ammunition on his phone. She texted the teen “Lol. I’m not mad at you. You have to learn not to get caught,” prosecutors said.

Then, Ethan Crumbley’s behavior the day of the shooting raised red flags with a teacher who found a drawing of a gun pointing at the words, “The thoughts won’t stop. Help me.” There was also a drawing of a bullet with “Blood everywhere” written on the paper, the AP reported.

James and Jennifer Crumbley had been called to the school for a meeting on Nov. 30, but decided to leave him at the school. They were also told to get their son counseling.

Ethan Crumbley had a 9 mm Sig Sauer handgun and 50 rounds of ammunition in his backpack when he started shooting, leaving four students dead.

His parents are facing involuntary manslaughter charges, accused of giving their son access to the weapon and ignoring the need for mental health treatment.

Officials said James Crumbley bought his son the gun four days before the shooting, CNN reported.

Prosecutors said Ethan Crumbley, who was 15 at the time of the shooting, had hallucinations about demons and had an interest in guns and Nazi propaganda.

“Put simply, they created an environment in which their son’s violent tendencies flourished. They were aware their son was troubled, and then they bought him a gun,” prosecutors alleged.

The Crumbleys said they did not know of their son’s plans to open fire at the school and they said the gun was not easily accessible at their home, the AP reported.

They have pleaded not guilty, with lawyers saying they should not be responsible for the deaths that were at the hands of their son, CNN reported.

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