15-year-old schoolboy who staged the shooting in Michigan accused of terrorism and will be tried as an adult

Oakland County, Michigan Attorney Karen MacDonald announced that school shooting suspect, identified as 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley, will be convicted as an adult. He was charged with terrorism, four first-degree murders, and seven charges of assault with the intent to murder, and felony possession of firearms. The edition told in more detail Independent.

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McDonald added that "there is still important evidence to be gathered, the process will take some time." She confirmed that Mr. Crumbley faces life imprisonment as he is being charged as an adult.

She said that “additional charges could be brought very soon” and that Crumbley was charged as an adult because of the “seriousness of the crime” under Michigan law.

“First-degree murder is the most serious of the crimes for which the suspect is charged,” McDonald said.

“The facts show that this was not an impulsive act,” the prosecutor added. - Mr. Crumbley will be "arraigned this afternoon."

She said that “we have become insensitive to gunfire in schools and to prevent further tragedies like the one we witnessed yesterday,” gun ownership needs to be addressed both locally and nationally.

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“Convicting this man as an adult is necessary to achieve justice and protect the community,” McDonald said. “Any other option would put all of us at risk for this man because he could be released and still be a threat.”

She noted that charging a suspect with first degree murder “requires willfulness. And after examining the evidence, the police are confident that it was a deliberate attack.

“We are considering charges against both parents and will make a decision soon,” the prosecutor said.

According to her, "there is a lot of digital evidence, video recordings", which made her believe that "we can prove willfulness."

Explaining the terrorism charge, she noted the fear and consequences not only for those who died or were injured, but for all the students who “hid screaming under their desks, and the children who are now at home and cannot recover. I cannot imagine a world in which they could ever step back into this school. "

“These are victims, and so are their families,” she said.

“My focus is not on what the school did wrong or right — my focus is on the victims,” McDonald said. “The response was impeccable.”

She also noted that “four children were killed and others were injured, which suggests that we can really learn something for ourselves from this tragedy. We must pay attention to the fact that people must be held accountable.

“If the incident that happened yesterday, where four children were killed and several children were injured, is not enough to overhaul our gun laws, I don’t know what will be enough,” she said. “We need to make sure that when we send our children to school, they are safe.” Responsible gun ownership is a must. It is very important".

The suspect's father bought the pistol used in the shootout, a Sig Sauer 9mm semi-automatic pistol, four days ago.

“We know that owning a gun means storing it properly, but also keeping the ammunition separate and away from others, especially minors,” McDonald said. “We know this and we must hold accountable those who do not do this.” Hopefully we can start a long conversation and move the needle on appropriate gun control.”

After examining many hours of video surveillance footage, law enforcement agencies said that the suspect came out of the toilet with a weapon.

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard told reporters that law enforcement officers were looking at video footage from cameras at the school to map out the suspect's actions.

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He added that the shooting was "absolutely heartless," but the motive has not been established.

The suspect is being held in a juvenile detention center.

The police searched the suspect's home. Sheriff Bouchard said they ransacked his computer, phone and social media accounts.

The suspect fired 15 to 20 shots before being arrested by the police. Oakland County Sheriff's Deputy Michael McCabe said the suspect was in class before the shooting and that he "surrendered without any problem."

McCabe added that the parents did not allow police to question their child.

The suspect still had seven bullets in his weapon at the time of his arrest, Sheriff Bouchard said. “He doesn’t talk, just like his parents,” he added.

The sheriff said the suspect acted as if he were an officer to gain access to the barricaded classrooms. “We know from witnesses that he tried to open the doors, and we know from physical evidence that he was shooting up and down through the doors,” he said.

The fourth student, 17-year-old Justin Schilling, died in hospital earlier Wednesday, December 1.

McCabe said Justin died around 10:00 am at McLaren Oakland Hospital in Pontiac.

Other victims of the shootout were identified as 17-year-old Madisin Baldwin, 16-year-old Tate Mayr and 14-year-old Hana St. Juliana.

Mayr died in a police car on his way to the hospital. McCabe did not go into details about the other deaths.

Another 7 people were injured, some are in critical condition.

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