Last Wednesday, a Michigan district judge ordered the release of surveillance footage and police reports in connection with the Oxford High School shooting that happened in November 2021.
The release of the materials was ordered by Judge Rae Lee Chabot in connection with the shooting that left four which left four students dead and seven others injured, reported Fox News. The materials are in connection with attorney Ven Johnson's case accusing Ethan Crumbley, the then-15-year-old shooting suspect, his parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, and school staff of negligence. Johnson had subpoenaed the Oxford Community school district and Oakland County Sheriff's Office for those materials.
Johnson said that the materials are going to have information contained in the report that he had never received because "they refuse to give it to me." He shared that in every case in the history of his practice, "they always give you the investigation." He said that so for whatever reason, they decided not to, they didn't think he needed it, they think it's too soon or they think "it could hurt their criminal case. They think a lot of things. But that's not their call."
The lawyer believes that video surveillance from outside and inside the school, and the sheriff's report, could show information essential to his case. The Crumbley family is being accused of negligence. The case has also accused the school district of gross negligence.
In the November 2021 shooting, 17-year-old Madisyn Baldwin, 16-year-old Tate Myre, 16-year-old Justin Shilling and 14-year-old Hana St. Juliana were killed. Johnson's complaints were filed on behalf of five Oxford High School students' parents. They include parents of Shilling, Myer, survivor Keegan Gregory, and survivors Sophia and Grace Kempen. Another hearing will be held on Aug. 3, shared the lawyer.
James and Jennifer were charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter each by Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald, but both parents of the suspect pleaded not guilty at their arraignment. Ethan used a pistol his father bought on Nov. 26, 2021, said authorities.
Meanwhile, the murder trial of Ethan has been delayed by four months, reported Detroit Free Press. His defense team convinced a judge last Thursday that it needed more time to go through the huge amount of evidence in the case.
As for the 16-year-old suspect, he is pursuing his education from jail, according to MLive. Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Markeisha Washington said that the boy has "solidified his educational opportunities." Washington added that the teen has since received the "necessary device in order to take his General Educational Development (GED) classes and he is in fact doing so.”
