Oxford school shooter Ethan Crumbley wins Appeals Court review

Robert Snell, The Detroit News on Sep 18, 2026

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DETROIT — The Michigan Supreme Court has sent the case of convicted Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley to the state Court of Appeals to consider whether he received ineffective assistance from his lawyer before being sentenced to life in prison without parole, and other issues.

The Thursday order was filed more than one year after a three-judge panel of the Michigan Court of Appeals denied Crumbley's requests to withdraw his guilty plea or be resentenced after an Oakland County judge declined to do both.

The order is designed to have appeals court judges decide whether Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Kwame Rowe abused his discretion in determining prosecutors had overcome the presumption against sentencing Crumbley to life in prison without parole by clear and convincing evidence.

The appeals court also was ordered to consider whether Rowe correctly held that statements made by Crumbley during the sentencing phase waived his ability to appeal the sentence.

"In all other respects, leave to appeal is denied, because we are not persuaded that the remaining questions presented should be reviewed by this court," the order reads.

Crumbley, 20, who pleaded guilty to all charges against him in October 2022, is serving the sentence at Oaks Correctional Facility in Manistee.

Crumbley's lawyer, Jaqueline Ouvry of the State Appellate Defender Office, welcomed the legal development.

"Had Ethan gone to trial instead, he would have been entitled to a direct appeal as a matter of right," she said in a statement. "Because he pleaded guilty, his meritorious legal issues have never received thorough appellate review. Today’s decision matters because it’s an opportunity for the court to dig into questions that, until now, have largely gone unexamined."

Ouvry added: “We’re encouraged that the court of appeals will take a closer look at the issues in Ethan’s case. This means more briefing and oral argument in the months ahead, and we welcome the chance to make our case in full."

A spokesman for the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office did not respond immediately to a message seeking comment Sept. 18.

Crumbley was 15 at the time of the Nov. 30, 2021, shooting at Oxford High School.

He admitted killing four classmates: Tate Myre, 16; Madisyn Baldwin, 17; Hana St. Juliana, 14; and Justin Shilling, 17.

Crumbley also pleaded guilty to injuring six other students and a teacher and an act of terrorism for firing his gun at least 33 times inside the school.