Michigan high school shooter Ethan Crumbley was like a ‘wild child’ deeply neglected by his parents, a psychologist told a hearing to determine whether he would get life in prison.
Crumbley pleaded guilty to killing four of his classmates and injuring seven others in a shooting at Oxford High School on November 30, 2021.
During a Miller hearing on Tuesday, his lawyers released disturbing videos from prison showing the 17-year-old in deep distress as deputies restrained him while he moaned.
In one image, his head is completely covered with a hood. ‘Why didn’t you stop him? I’m sorry. … Stop, my God, why?’ he said.
Psychologist Colin King spent more than 20 hours with the shooter and determined he was “a child who was abandoned” and was mentally ill.
Michigan high school shooter Ethan Crumbley was like a ‘wild child’ neglected by his parents, psychologist testifies at hearing to determine if he would get life in prison
Crumbley pleaded guilty to killing four of his classmates and injuring seven others in a shooting at Oxford High School on November 30, 2021
Psychologist Colin King spent more than 20 hours with the shooter and determined he was ‘a child who was abandoned’ and was mentally ill
King said Crumbley suffered from psychosis, a break from reality. He later predicted that the boy could “absolutely” be rehabilitated.
“A number of my clients have had trouble with the law,” said King, who has testified in numerous homicide cases.
“Thanks to psychotherapy and support, they were able to progress. …Ethan’s brain is still maturing.
Crumbley pleaded guilty in Oakland County Circuit Court to a total of 24 counts, including one count of terrorism causing death and four counts of first-degree murder on October 24 last year.
He was also charged with seven counts of assault with intent to murder and 12 counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
The teenager, who was 15 at the time, opened fire at Oxford High School near Detroit with a semi-automatic handgun his father had bought him as a Christmas present days before the massacre.
Two boys, aged 17 and 16, and two girls, aged 17 and 14, were killed while six other students and a teacher were injured.
The mass shooter cannot automatically be sentenced to life because of his age.
Oakland County Judge Kwame Rowe must consider the shooter’s maturity, mental health, unstable family life and other factors set out by the Supreme Court.
He can still order a life sentence, but that would be a rare outcome for a teenager. Otherwise, Crumbley would face a minimum prison sentence of between 25 and 40 years, followed by eligibility for parole. Its maximum duration would be 60 years.
Psychologist King met Crumbley several times, interviewed him and gave him a series of psychological tests. He also reviewed his dark journal entries and text messages
The mass shooter cannot automatically be sentenced to life because of his age. Oakland County Judge Kwame Rowe must consider the shooter’s maturity, mental health, unstable family life and other factors set out by the Supreme Court
Prosecutors want a life sentence without the possibility of parole. People with depression “don’t all become mass shooters, do they?” Assistant District Attorney David Williams said during the hearing
Psychologist King met Crumbley several times, interviewed him and gave him a series of psychological tests. He also reviewed the teenager’s grim diary entries and text messages.
He revealed the teenager believed a gun was going to be in his backpack on the day of the shooting when he was sent to the office for drawing violent pictures in class.
“Ethan said for the first time in his life that he felt relieved,” King said. “He said he just knew the sheriffs were going to break into the office and arrest him because there was no way – after everything they saw – they weren’t going to search that bag. back.”
But the backpack was never checked and the boy was allowed to stay in school. Later he came out of a bathroom and started shooting.
King said Crumbley was raised in a rowdy household by parents who left him alone for hours, argued in front of him and were not discreet when discussing infidelity, divorce and suicide.
The boy was even forced to figure out what to do with his beloved dead dog.
“He can be considered a wild child,” King said.
“It’s basically a child who has been abandoned. … Someone who is abandoned has what is called arrested development,” he said. “They lack social references. They become marginalized in society.
Crumbley pleaded guilty to killing four of his classmates and injuring seven others in a shooting on November 30, 2021
The teenager’s parents, Jennifer Crumbley (left) and James Crumbley (right), are both facing manslaughter charges for their son’s actions
King concluded that the school shooter suffered from major depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
“A number of innocent people died,” the psychologist said. I’m not here to make excuses for Ethan Crumbley. He planned the attack. My thoughts are with the victims and their families. He was mentally ill.
Prosecutors want a life sentence without the possibility of parole. On cross-examination of King, they suggested the psychologist was giving the shooter a break.
People with depression “don’t all become mass shooters, do they?” said Assistant District Attorney David Williams.
Williams repeated evidence that was seized last week: journal entries and a video made the day before the shooting in which the teenager declared his intention to attack the school.
He noted that victim Justin Shilling was executed in a bathroom. “Do you think it’s the product of a juvenile brain?” asked Williams.
“Yes,” King answered.
A memorial to the four victims of Ethan Crumbley’s high school shooting
A parent hugging a child following the active shooter situation at Oxford High School on November 30, 2021
King said the adults repeatedly missed opportunities to help the shooter. But Williams noted that help was just days away if the boy really wanted it.
His parents had assured school staff that he would get counseling within 48 hours of seeing his violent drawings.
Last week, prosecutors called four people who witnessed the shooting, including a staff member who was injured and a student who rescued an injured girl. It was the first time their stories had been aired in court.
Separately, Crumbley’s parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, face manslaughter charges.
They are accused of ignoring their son’s mental health needs and making a gun available at home.
The Miller hearing will resume on August 18.
