Every year in 2021, Ethan Crumbley, a teenager, unleashed terror at an Oxford High School in Michigan. He gunned down four classmates; Justin Shilling, Tate Meyer, Hana St. Juliana, and Madison Baldwin, leaving seven others wounded, including a 17-year-old Justin Shilling. Come Friday, Shilling's parents would join hundreds of American families going through court procedures.
Justin's dad, Craig Schilling, expressed his belief that the perpetrator deserved the same fate as he had brought upon himself. He clarified, "Realistically, I don't think he'll get what he deserves, but I have this feeling that he's getting the full brunt of it, and that's not enough."
Back in October 2022, the shooter pled guilty to terrorism with death consequences and charges of first-degree murder in four cases. State attorneys expressed they believed it was a first that a mass shooter was indicted for "such a targeted violence" under terrorism charges. Since Michigan has no death penalty, in September 2023, a judge decided that the shooter had a valid claim to a life sentence without parole, even though he was just 15 at the time of the shooting. A life sentence with parole after some time is also an option.
Jill Soave, Justin's mother, shared too, "I pray for life without parole." She then added, "Nothing is enough. I know he gets to live, and my son doesn't. As parents, I will never be satisfied. But that's the maximum sentence allowed by law, so I pray that the judge decides this way."
Craig and Jill have faced tragedies no parent should live through, and Court proceedings have unveiled a raw, heart-wrenching journey. They will both testify during the Friday's sentencing hearing, sharing their tales of loss and how life since the shooting has changed for them.
Angry and determined to be heard, both Craig and Jill openly expressed their anger toward the shooter. Jill revealed she still could sense Justin's presence, a comforting reality that helped her stay calm. Meanwhile, Craig approached his turn to speak with courage and resilience.
"I could only manage to stay calm enough to finish my speech and ensure I did the best for my son," Craig said.
Unbeknownst to the families, Shilling's companion, 15-year-old Keegan Gregory, had sent distressing text messages as the shooting unfolded. One read, "I'm hiding in the bathroom, oh my God, help mom." "He killed him. OMFG," clear in the subsequent messages.
Then, four harrowing minutes of bewildering silence passed by until Keegan texted, "I just saw him shoot a man." "I was put against the wall," he continued, followed by his confession that he left, potentially saving his own life.
Keegan has been in therapy for several years, struggling to cope with the events. He moved away from Oxford, unable to return.
"He wrote this statement in preparation for the proceedings, but initially wanted no part in the case," Megan Gregory, Keegan's mother, shared with CNN. "Now he feels it's important that he speaks up."
Passionately fighting for justice, Meghan refuses to rest until every suspect in Oxford High School who may have played a role in the shooting is held accountable.
Zealously defending their loved ones, the families of the victims filed civil suits against the school and some of its employees. Craig Schilling emphasized that he's "not the type of person who just goes and sues, sues, sues." He then added, "You have to take responsibility. You have to turn every stone, look everywhere, and ask every question, and get every answer."
The released school board-commissioned report suggested that applying suitable threat assessment guidelines and adhering to district threat assessment guidelines would have prevented this tragedy.
Ven Johnson, lawyer from Ven Johnson Law in Detroit and Flint, Michigan, acts as legal counsel for several victims and their families in the civil proceedings. He stated, "What we do in tort law is to pursue every wrongdoer." In their lawsuit, they accused the school and some of its staff of neglecting their duty to intervene during a critical moment on the morning of the shooting.
Source materials for this article were primarily gathered from .
As the shooter, Ethan Crumbley, currently sits in jail for life, the focus shifts to his parents, both sentenced to 10-15 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter. All the while, the victims' families remain unafraid to champion for justice and grapple with their grieving process.
