Friday, September 29, 2023

PONTIAC, Mich. - Oakland County Circuit Judge Kwamé Rowe ruled today that the Oxford High School shooter could be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, finding that the prosecution met its burden and rebutted a presumption against such a sentence. The ruling means that, when the shooter is sentenced on December 8th, Judge Rowe will have the option of sentencing the shooter to life without parole, or a lengthy term of years with the possibility of parole. The ruling came after four days of testimony in July and August as part of a United States Supreme Court mandated Miller hearing.

The prosecution team, led by Oakland County Prosecutor KAREN D. McDONALD and Assistant Prosecutor Marc Keast, acknowledged the shooter’s difficult upbringing and neglect, and also acknowledged the importance of treating juveniles differently than adults and considering the potential for future rehabilitation. During her closing argument, Prosecutor McDonald stated that “both things can be true – we can feel compassion, but we can also fashion an appropriate sentence and reckon with the very severe, rare circumstances of this crime.” She argued that this is the rare case and rare defendant where a sentence of life without the possibility of parole should be considered, stating “this is an offense unlike any other this country or state has ever seen – not just the number of children who died, but the way the defendant killed them, the amount of research and planning and preparation that went into it, and the way he carried it out – the picking and choosing of who would die.”

After the ruling this morning, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said, “I commend the teachers and students who testified about what happened at Oxford High School that day, and I hope the result today brings the victims, their families, and the Oxford community some comfort.”

This case marks the first time that a defendant has been charged with and convicted of terrorism resulting from a mass shooting.

On December 1, 2021, the shooter was charged with 24 counts, including Terrorism Causing Death, four counts of first-degree Premeditated Murder, seven counts of Assault with Intent to Murder, and 12 counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, stemming from the shooting at Oxford High School on November 30, 2021, where he murdered Hana St. Juliana, Tate Myre, Madisyn Baldwin, and Justin Shilling. The shooter pled guilty as charged on October 24, 2022.

Terrorism Causing Death is a felony punishable by life imprisonment without parole or a minimum sentence of 25 to 40 years and a maximum sentence of at least 60 years. First Degree Premeditated Murder is a felony offense punishable by life without parole or a minimum sentence of 25 to 40 years and a maximum sentence of at least 60 years. Assault with Intent to Murder is a felony punishable by life imprisonment or any term of years. Felony Firearm carries a sentence of two years mandatory imprisonment.

A sentencing hearing will take place at 9:00 am on December 8, 2023, before Judge Kwamé Rowe. Victims will have an opportunity to provide victim impact statements at the sentencing hearing.

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