Suspected school shooter to plead “insanity” defense, needs mental health examinations

Suspected Michigan high school shooter Ethan Crumbley will plead insanity, his attorneys announced on Thursday. Crumbley is responsible for the attack that killed four of his classmates.

According to the New York Post, the announcement came the same day as a lawsuit that named the suspect, along with his parents and school officials over the incident that occurred on November 30th at Oxford High School.

The suspect’s attorneys wrote in a filing in the Oakland County Circuit Court, “Please take notice that… Ethan Crumbley intends to assert the defense of insanity at the time of the alleged offense.”

The insanity plea will likely lead to mental health exams for Crumbley. He is being charged as an adult and currently being held without bail. In all, he faces 24 charges. These include terrorism, four counts of murder, and seven counts of attempted murder for wounding six classmates and a teacher. Earlier this month he pleaded not guilty.

His parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, are in custody as well. They are being charged with involuntary manslaughter for allegedly allowing their son to have the gun used in the attack and for ignoring warning signs of his intentions.

The lawsuit filed on Thursday accuses the three Crumbleys of reckless conduct, and school officials of negligence by failing to prevent the shooting. The Myres are seeking $25,000. They lost their son, Tate Myre, during the attack.