On May 28, 2025, the Michigan Supreme Court issued a decision that has left families of the victims of the 2021 Oxford High School shooting grappling with disappointment and frustration. The court declined to hear appeals in civil lawsuits filed against Oxford Community Schools and its employees, effectively ending the families’ legal efforts to hold the school district accountable for the tragedy that claimed four young lives and injured seven others. This ruling marks a significant setback for the families, who have been seeking justice and answers for over three years, and it raises broader questions about governmental immunity and accountability in the wake of school shootings.
On November 30, 2021, a 15-year-old student named Ethan Crumbley carried out a devastating shooting at Oxford High School in Oxford, Michigan. Armed with a 9mm semiautomatic handgun purchased by his parents, Crumbley killed four students—Hana St. Juliana, 14; Tate Myre, 16; Madisyn Baldwin, 17; and Justin Shilling, 17—and wounded six other students and a teacher. The tragedy sent shockwaves through the community and the nation, becoming one of the deadliest school shootings in Michigan’s history.
The case drew national attention not only for the horrific loss of life but also for its legal implications. Ethan Crumbley, now 19, pleaded guilty to 24 charges, including first-degree murder and terrorism, and is serving a life sentence without parole. In a groundbreaking move, his parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, were convicted of involuntary manslaughter for failing to address their son’s mental health issues and for purchasing the gun used in the attack. They are each serving 10-year prison sentences, marking the first time parents of a school shooter in the United States faced criminal charges in connection to their child’s actions.
The civil lawsuits, filed by families of the victims and survivors, including those of Tate Myre, Justin Shilling, and survivor Keegan Gregory, aimed to hold Oxford Community Schools and its staff accountable for what they allege was gross negligence leading up to the shooting. The families argued that school officials failed to act on clear warning signs exhibited by Ethan Crumbley, which could have prevented the tragedy.
On the morning of the shooting, Crumbley had drawn disturbing images on a math worksheet, including a gun, a bullet, a bleeding figure, and phrases like “The thoughts won’t stop. Help me.” School staff, including counselor Shawn Hopkins and dean of students Nick Ejak, called Crumbley’s parents for an urgent meeting. Despite concerns about his mental state, the parents declined to take him home, and no one—neither parents nor school staff—checked his backpack, where the gun was concealed. Hours later, Crumbley carried out the attack.
The families’ legal team, led by attorney Ven Johnson, pointed to an independent investigation by Guidepost Solutions, released in October 2023, which concluded that the shooting could have been prevented had school staff followed proper protocols. The report highlighted missed opportunities, such as the failure to search Crumbley’s backpack or remove him from school after the concerning drawings were discovered. The families argued that these lapses constituted gross negligence and that Michigan’s Governmental Tort Liability Act, which shields public entities from certain lawsuits, was unconstitutional and unfairly protected the school district.
The Michigan Supreme Court’s decision to decline the appeal upholds a September 2024 ruling by the Michigan Court of Appeals, which dismissed the lawsuits on the grounds that Oxford Community Schools and its employees were protected by governmental immunity. Under Michigan law, public entities and employees are generally shielded from liability unless their actions are deemed the “proximate cause” of harm, meaning the most direct and immediate cause. The appeals court ruled that Ethan Crumbley’s premeditated actions, not the school’s conduct, were the proximate cause of the tragedy.
This legal threshold has proven to be a significant hurdle for the families. Oakland County Circuit Judge Mary Ellen Brennan, in a 2023 ruling, also dismissed the lawsuits, stating that the school district’s actions did not directly cause the victims’ injuries. A federal judge echoed this sentiment in May 2025, dismissing related federal lawsuits by ruling that school officials did not act with “callous indifference” to the risks posed by Crumbley. These consistent rulings have left the families with few remaining legal avenues to pursue accountability.
The Supreme Court’s brief, two-sentence order stating that it was “not persuaded that the questions presented should be reviewed” stunned the families and their legal team. During a virtual press conference on May 28, 2025, parents and attorneys expressed profound disappointment. Buck Myre, father of Tate Myre, called the decision “horrible” and expressed shock that such a tragedy could be “swept under the rug” by the government. “This was preventable,” Myre said, emphasizing the need for accountability to ensure lessons are learned to prevent future shootings.
Meghan Gregory, mother of survivor Keegan Gregory, echoed Myre’s sentiments, stating, “I think we’re all still kind of just trying to process that they won’t even listen to our case.” She stressed that the families remain committed to seeking justice and ensuring that the truth about the school’s failures is revealed, despite the legal setbacks.
Attorney Ven Johnson called the ruling “shameful” and reiterated his stance that governmental immunity should be abolished. “If this shooting had happened at a private school, this case would have gone to trial,” he said, arguing that the law unfairly protects government employees over private citizens. Johnson and his team plan to shift their focus to advocating for legislative changes to Michigan’s immunity laws, hoping to lower the bar for holding public entities accountable in cases of gross negligence.
The Oxford High School shooting case has sparked a national conversation about accountability, school safety, and the legal protections afforded to public institutions. The families’ struggle highlights the challenges of holding schools liable for tragedies, even when warning signs are evident. The Guidepost Solutions report, which the families cited as evidence of negligence, has been a focal point in their argument that schools must take proactive measures to identify and address potential threats.
The case also underscores the unique legal precedent set by the prosecution of Ethan Crumbley’s parents. Their convictions have been hailed as a step toward holding individuals accountable for enabling school shootings, but the dismissal of the civil suits against the school district leaves a gap in addressing institutional responsibility. As school shootings continue to plague the United States, with incidents like the 2022 Uvalde, Texas, shooting and the 2018 Parkland, Florida, shooting leading to significant settlements, the Oxford case raises questions about whether current laws adequately balance accountability and protection for public entities.
With their legal options nearly exhausted, the families of the Oxford victims are now turning to advocacy. They are calling on the Michigan legislature to reform governmental immunity laws to make it easier to hold schools accountable for negligence. Craig Shilling, father of Justin Shilling, emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into the school’s actions, stating, “The school is the only entity that hasn’t really been looked at.” The families hope that by pushing for legislative change, they can prevent other communities from experiencing similar tragedies.
The Oxford High School shooting remains a painful reminder of the human cost of inaction and the complexities of seeking justice in the aftermath of a mass shooting. While the Michigan Supreme Court’s decision may have closed the door on the families’ civil lawsuits, their fight for accountability and safer schools continues.
For more information on the Oxford High School shooting and its legal aftermath, visit ABC News or WXYZ Detroit.
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