Oxford teen showed 'troubling signs' months before mass shooting, attorney says

DETROIT, Mich. (WEYI) — An attorney is releasing new details from the months and days leading up to the mass shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan on Nov. 30, 2021.

Attorney Ven Johnson represents five families and his lawsuit filed in Oakland County Circuit Court names school employees including teachers, counselors and other leadership staff.

During Thursday's press conference held by Johnson, accused shooter Ethan Crumbley was exhibiting troubling signs before the shooting took place. Crumbley is accused of opening fire and killing four students and injuring six other students and a teacher.

Johnson said he has taken sworn testimony from five to six defendants all detailing what they knew prior to the day of the shooting.

One teacher said Crumbley drew what appeared to be an ammunition magazine on a note card in late Aug. 2021.

An email was allegedly sent to the counselor named in the lawsuit from a teacher saying, “could you please touch base with Ethan Crumbley he says he feels terrible and his family was a mistake.” Johnson said this all happened in the first few weeks of school.

According to the preliminary examination in District Court, Crumbley was also allegedly looking at bullets on his cell phone in class.

The now 16-year-old suspect is lodged in the Oakland County Jail awaiting trial, which is set to begin in Jan. 2023.

His parents, Jennifer and James Crumbley, are also charged in connection to the shooting. Both are facing four counts of involuntary manslaughter. They too are lodged in the Oakland County Jail awaiting a trial, but their date has yet to be set.