Thursday, December 19, 2024

PONTIAC, Mich. – On Thursday, December 19, 2024, Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Kwamé Rowe issued two decisions denying motions filed by the Oxford High School shooter.  In his first opinion and order, Judge Rowe denied the Oxford shooter’s motion to withdrawal his guilty plea. In his ruling, Judge Rowe stated: “The Court finds that Defendant’s plea was knowingly, voluntarily, and accurately given and there was no defect in the plea-taking process.” 

In his second opinion and order, Judge Rowe denied the Oxford shooter’s motion for resentencing. Judge Rowe stated: “The Court finds that Defendant’s sentence is constitutional and proportionate to the seriousness of the offense and the offender.” 

“These are the right decisions under the law, and they allow us to continue doing the most important things - focusing on the victims and their families, and on preventing future shootings,” stated Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald. 

On December 1, 2021, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald charged the Oxford High School shooter 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. These charges stem from the shooting at Oxford High School on November 30, 2021, where he murdered Hana St. Juliana, Tate Myre, Madisyn Baldwin, and Justin Shilling, injured several others, and terrorized the community. The shooter pled guilty as charged on October 24, 2022. Following a multi-day Miller hearing and a powerful day of victim impact statements, Judge Rowe sentenced the shooter to life without the possibility of parole on Friday, December 8, 2023. 

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