(CNN) — Ethan Crumbley was charged as an adult with terrorism and first-degree murder, among other charges in connection with the deadly shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan.
Specifically, he is charged with one count of terrorism that caused death, four counts of premeditated murder, seven counts of assault with intent to murder and 12 counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, said the Wednesday Karen D. McDonald, Oakland County Attorney.
The seriousness of the crime, the events that led to the shooting and that suggest that “it is not a simple impulsive act”, as well as the need to press charges as an adult to “achieve justice and protect the public”, were the reasons why who decided to accuse him as an adult, he said.
According to McDonald, more charges could be brought soon as the investigation continues to unfold and these are just the initial charges.
The prosecutor stressed that she would only name the suspect once at the beginning of the press conference, so that the focus of attention would return to the victims.
It will be processed the afternoon of this Wednesday.
The evidence indicates that the shooting was planned “long before the incident,” he said, without elaborating.
McDonald said his office will study the possibility of filing charges against the suspect’s parents.
Four confirmed victims
Police sirens replaced the sound of school bells Tuesday after a mass shooting at Oxford High School in Oxford, Michigan, that left four students dead.
This Tuesday, three teenagers were reported dead, but on Wednesday morning another young man died, who had been injured in the shooting.
This is Justin Shilling, 17, who passed away this morning, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities have announced a press conference at 3pm for Wednesday. Early Wednesday, they met with the prosecutor’s office for a preliminary meeting.
Six more students and a teacher were shot and wounded and a 15-year-old suspect is in custody.
Vigils were held for the victims Tuesday night as the community, located about 67 kilometers north of Detroit, processed the trauma of a deadly shooting that forced terrified students to barricade themselves in classrooms, unsure if they would get out safely. .
People embrace during a vigil following a shooting at Oxford High School at Lake Pointe Community Church in Lake Orion, Michigan, on November 30, 2021.
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Here’s what we know about the shooting:
How the shooting unfolded
Police officers were dispatched to the school at 12:52 p.m. Tuesday, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said, saying more than 100 911 calls were made.
As police searched the campus, students and staff began barricading doors and hiding in classrooms.
“The only information he had is that he came out of a bathroom with the gun and I don’t know where he went first,” Bouchard told reporters Tuesday, referring to the suspect.
Officers rushed into the building and detained him within three minutes of his arrival, the sheriff said.
Once the suspect met the officers, he raised his hands and took a gun from him before taking him into custody.
The pistol, a 9mm Sig Sauer SP2022 pistol, was loaded with seven rounds.
“He had a loaded firearm and he was coming down the hall. That, I think, interrupted what potentially could have been seven more victims,” Bouchard said at a news conference Tuesday night.
An Oakland County Sheriff’s Office deputy is assigned to the school and that deputy helped apprehend the suspect, Oakland County Sheriff Michael McCabe said.
Investigators believe there were no other weapons involved and there is no indication that the suspect was wearing body armor.
Responding police did not fire and the suspect was not injured, McCabe said.
About 25 agencies and about 60 ambulances responded to the school Tuesday, according to John Lyman, a public information officer for the Rochester Hills Fire Department.
What we know about the victims
Investigators identified the victims who died in the shooting as 16-year-old Tate Myre; Hanna St. Julian, 14, Madisyn Baldwin, 17, and Justin Shilling, 17.
Myre died on patrol while an officer tried to take her to hospital due to the “severity of her injuries,” Bouchard said. Shilling passed away this Wednesday morning.
Seven other people – six students and a teacher – were shot, Bouchard said. Three are in critical condition with gunshot wounds, including a 14-year-old who is hooked up to a ventilator after surgery. A 14-year-old teenager is in serious condition with a gunshot wound to the jaw and head, Bouchard said. Three students are in stable condition and the teacher who was shot has been discharged.
There were many other non-life threatening injuries as they ran out of school, Bouchard said. Most were treated and released from a waiting area, he said.
What we know about the suspect
The suspect in the shooting, a sophomore at the school, is being held at the Oakland County Children’s Village, a juvenile detention center, and is on suicide watch where he is checked every 15 minutes, said David Coulter, an executive at the school. Oakland County.
“We don’t have a motive right now,” McCabe said Tuesday. “We are still investigating.”
The suspect’s parents hired a lawyer and did not allow him to speak to police, authorities said.
The semi-automatic pistol recovered by police was purchased by the suspect’s father on Friday, Bouchard said.
What we know about the Michigan shooting investigation
In two videos recovered from Ethan Crumbley’s cell phone, which were recorded by him the night before the shooting, the young man spoke of shooting and killing students at Oxford High School, according to Lt. Tim Willis, who presented evidence at the arraignment. .
Meanwhile, processing of the scene at the high school was expected to extend into the evening hours and investigators have a “tremendous amount of video footage” to review on the school’s cameras, Bouchard said.
Two 15-round magazines were found at the scene, Bouchard said, noting that at least 12 rounds were fired.
A search warrant was executed at the suspect’s home Tuesday, McCabe said. Bouchard said authorities seized a phone and are examining other seized items.
Investigators are also investigating a social media post apparently made by the suspect that appeared to show the weapon and a target, Bouchard said. “We are going to do a deep dive into social media and all the activities of this young man.”
Bouchard said her department was not aware of any prior concerns at the school.
McCabe said the suspect could be charged as an adult, but that is up to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.
Prosecutor Karen D. McDonald said in a statement Tuesday that her office “began the process of receiving information about the investigation.”
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