WATCH: Oxford High School shooter could spend rest of life in prison
PONTIAC, Mich. (FOX 2) - Nearly two years since he killed students inside of Oxford High School, the confessed shooter learned he could spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The issue of his guilt was decided a year ago when he pleaded guilty. But his sentencing has had to wait for Judge Kwame Rowe to rule on whether he can spend his life in prison or not.
"The court finds that the prosecution had rebutted the presumption by clear and convincing evidence that a sentence to life without parole is a disproportionate sentence," Rowe said.
In other words, according to FOX 2's Charlie Langton, the prosecution did enough to prove that the shooter is eligible for life in prison.
Read more about the ruling and why it seemed a bit convoluted here.
Why the Oxford shooter wasn't sentenced on Friday
The Oxford High School pleaded guilty almost a year ago and, on Friday, was in court for a ruling on whether he will be eligible to spend life in prison. After nearly an hour of reading the order, Judge Kwame Rowe ruled that the prosecution has done enough to show that he is eligible for a sentence of life in prison.
This hearing is required by law, based on his age, to determine if an adult facility is still the safest place for him to be. Since the shooting, he's had to appear for the monthly hearing, all of which have confirmed he will remain in the adult jail.
Friday's hearing will be different, however, as it will also be when Judge Kwame Rowe announces his decision on sentencing.
Because the shooter is a minor, the judge must evaluate all factors before deciding if he will be eligible for parole – or if he will spend the rest of his life in prison. Rowe will not be sentencing the shooter on Friday. Instead, the date of the sentencing is Dec. 8, 2023 – which will give victims of the 2021 mass shooting the opportunity to address the defendant.
Rowe's decision comes after four days of testimony over the summer where both the state and the shooter's defense argued their cases.
Previous testimony from victims and psychologists painted a grim picture of the shooter's actions and his headspace in the months and days leading up to the mass shooting that killed four students and injured seven others.
On the final day, both Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald and defense attorney Paulette Loftin made their pitches for why the shooter should or shouldn't spend the rest of his life in prison.
The first two days of the hearing included disturbing details about the shooter's plan to "be the next school shooter" as is verbalized in a video recorded before the tragic event. There was also emotional testimony from a teacher who was face-to-face with the shooter.
Judge sets decision date for Oxford shooter's sentence
Judge Kwame Rowe said he will announce his decision about whether the teen defendant in the Oxford High School shooting will be sentenced to prison without the possibility of parole on Sept. 29. He also set a date for the shooter to be sentenced on Dec. 8.
"At that time, I sent my husband a text message that just said 'active shooter'," said Molly Darnell.
During the second day of testimony, there was equally heart-wrenching statements given survivors of the shooting, who witnessed the terror in Nov. 2021. That includes 17-year-old Heidi Allen and 16-year-old Keegan Gregory, the latter of which was face-to-face with the shooter before escaping.
"When he signaled me with the gun, I ran behind is back," Gregory said. "When I saw his body, I realized I was going to die."
The third day of testimony was from a witness from the defense, who made the argument the shooter was a ‘feral child’ and mentally unwell.
During the final day of testimony, Dr. Lisa Anacker who specializes in forensic psychiatry testified as a rebuttal witness for the prosecution. In her estimation, the shooter did not have a mental illness at the time of the incident.
Anacker interviewed the shooter over a 5-hour period, determining that while it was not normal for him to hear voices telling him to kill as indicated in text messages he's sent, he does not suffer from hallucinations or enter periods of psychosis.
She also rebuked the conclusion of the defense's witness who said the shooter was mentally unwell and that would have contributed to his decision to shoot his classmates.
"I took into account what the defendant told me. But I also looked at the objective data in the case," she said. "For example, that includes videos of the defendant after the shooting in the police sub-station. In those videos, he wasn't exhibiting signs of psychosis."
"He's communicating clearly, calmly, and appears collected, suggesting a reality-oriented processing," she added.
While the defendant said he thought about carrying out the shooting for months and had a fascination with violence, his behavior indicated otherwise. And up until the shooting and in the moments afterward, he didn't express behavior to indicate he had a mental disability.
The prosecution rested its case shortly after 11 a.m., followed by closing arguments.
More coverage
- ‘I will be the next school shooter’ - shooter's head space detailed in Day 1 of Miller Hearing
- ‘I realized I was going to die’ - victims give heart wrenching statements
- Psychologist says Oxford shooter was a ‘feral child’
What is a Miller hearing?
Miller hearings, which are named after the U.S. Supreme Court's 2012 Miller v. Alabama ruling, are used to decide if life without parole sentences are appropriate for children.
The shooter pleaded guilty to four counts of murder, one count of terrorism, seven counts of assault with intent to murder, and 12 counts of possession of a firearm while in the commission of a felony after the Nov. 30, 2021 shooting. However, he cannot be sentenced until a judge considers his age since he is a teenager facing life in prison.
He was 15 when he committed the shooting. Had he been an adult, he would have automatically been given a life sentence without parole.
However, his age means certain factors must be considered before such a sentence is handed down.
According to FOX 2's Charlie Langton, it will come down to two things: the severity of the crime balanced with the age of the shooter.
He could get life in prison, if Rowe sides with the prosecution, or he could get at least 40 years in prison if Rowe sees his age as a larger factor.
What happens next?
While the shooter will learn if he can get life without parole Friday, he won't be sentenced during the hearing.
He is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 8.