Michigan Teen to Plead Insanity in School Shooting

Ethan Crumbley, 15, who is charged as an adult with murder and other crimes for killing four students at a Michigan high school and wounding  six other students and a teacher will pursue an insanity defense as he, his parents and school officials faced a new lawsuit over the attack at Oxford High School, reports NPR. The lawsuit was announced on behalf of the parents of Tate Myre, who was slain Nov. 30, and other students who witnessed the shootings and alleges negligence by school officials and Crumbley’s parents over the attack. The suspect’s parents are accused of intentional, reckless and negligent conduct that led to the mass shooting.

The Oxford High School staff and teachers are accused of gross negligence that led to the shooting by not removing the shooter from the school building earlier. The notice of the insanity plea filed by Crumbley’s attorneys will lead to exams by the state Center for Forensic Psychiatry and experts retained by the defense and the prosecutor’s office. Judge Kwame Rowe could also order an exam by another expert. Under Michigan law, if someone is found not guilty by reason of insanity they must be referred to a state psychiatric center for custody and further evaluation. Someone who is found guilty but mentally ill still would be sentenced to prison but with recommendations that they get treatment.