Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald said they are "comforted that there is some sense of peace and closure" after a judge sentenced Ethan Crumbley to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Crumbley pleaded guilty last year to one count of terrorism causing death, four counts of first-degree murder and 19 other charges related to the deadly shooting at Oxford High School in 2021.
McDonald said she spoke to the school shooting victims after the trial and said that no one is celebrating Friday’s sentencing.
She said while Crumbley’s remarks to the court ahead of the sentencing weren’t “going to bring peace” to the hundreds of people in the case, her team is glad they got the results they wanted.
“It was the right thing to do,” she said.
McDonald said she thinks the dozens of victim impact statements resonated with everyone who was able to listen.
“We put a name and a voice to victims of terrorism and it’s the first time in the country that that's happened for a school shooting,” the Oakland County prosecutor said. “The courage and the fierceness of what they said, these things will stay with them for the rest of their lives and that's why that charge is so important because we have to name that and give them the dignity that they’re due.”
Oakland County Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard also commended the judge for sentencing Crumbley to life without the possibility of parole. He said in a statement Friday that it was "the appropriate thing" to do.
"He said he was prepared to spend the rest of his life in prison. It is appropriate that the system granted his wish," Bouchard said.
The sheriff said he hopes the families of those killed can take another step forward "in processing this unthinkable tragedy."