LOCAL 4 NEWS AT 5:00 STARTS NOW. >> THE AGONY WON’T GO AWAY. >> WE’RE SAD AND HEARTBROKEN.
OUR LIVES ARE FOREVER CHANGED.
>> Reporter: THE FAMILY OF TATE
MEAR, ONE OF THE FOUR OXFORD
STUDENTS KILLED IN THE SHOOTING
SPEAKS OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME.
AS THE SUSPECT IN THE CASE PLANS
A POSSIBLE INSANITY DEFENSE.
>> TODAY TATE MEAR’S FAMILY
APPEARED AT A NEWS CONFERENCE
ANNOUNCING A CIVIL LAWSUIT
AGAINST THE SCHOOLS, OFFICIALS
AND THE CRUMBLEY FAMILY.
>> ATTORNEYS FOR THE SUSPECT IN
THE CASE PLAN TO USE AN INSANITY
DEFENSE.
LET’S START THINGS OFF HERE AT 5
WITH THAT LAWSUIT FILED JUST
TODAY.
>> Reporter: DEVIN, THAT SUIT
WAS ANNOUNCED RIGHT HERE AT THE
HEARING IN SOUTHFIELD, NAMING
TWO OXFORD TEACHERS AND TWO
COUNSELORS AND THE SCHOOL, ALONG
WITH THE CRUMBLEY FAMILY OF NOT
NOTIFYING AUTHORITIES AFTER THEY
SAW APPARENT WARNING SIGNS.
AND TATE MEAR’S FATHER WHO SPOKE
OUT TODAY FOR THE VERY FIRST
TIME.
>> TODAY IS THE 50TH MORNING WE
HAVE WOKEN UP WITHOUT TATER.
>> Reporter: YOU CAN FEEL HIS
EMOTION IN HIS VOICE.
WIFE SHERRI DID NOT SPEAK, HER
FACE SAYS IT ALL.
>> WE’RE NOT DOING GOOD.
ALL WE DO IS WALK AROUND THE
HOUSE AND THINK ABOUT TATE.
WE THINK ABOUT HIM EVERY DAY.
WE SIT IN HIS ROOM.
WE LISTEN TO HIS PLAYLIST OFF OF
SPOTIFY.
WE MISS HIM.
AND WE’RE NOT DOING GOOD.
>> THE MEARS ARE DEFENDING
ACCOUNTABILITY BY SUING THOSE
WHO HAD CONTACT WITH ETHAN
CRUMBLEY AS CRUMBLEY SEEMED TO
BE CRYING OUT FOR HELP.
>> THE BALL WAS DROPPED.
>> CHAD AND MEGAN GREGORY HAVE
JOINED THE LAWSUIT.
THEIR 15-YEAR-OLD SON KEEGAN
SURVIVED BUT SEVERELY
TRAUMATIZED AS JUSTIN SCHILLING
WAS GUNNED DOWN JUST RIGHT NEXT
TO HIM.
>> HE RAN DOWN EMPTY HALLWAYS
PAST TATE’S BODY.
HE WAS THE FIFTH VICTIM THAT
MANAGED TO RUN.
>> SAY THEY VIOLATED THE ACT BY
NOT REVEALING HIS DRAWINGS.
>> THEY DID NOT DO ANYTHING TO
EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES AND SADLY
ENDED UP GIVING HIM THE BACKPACK
THAT THEY USED.
>> SAYS HIS FAMILY HAS ALWAYS
HAD THE BACK OF OXFORD SCHOOLS.
>> THE ONE TIME THEY NEEDED TO
HAVE OUR BACK, THEY DIDN’T.
>> THE FIRST THING WE DID WAS
REACH OUT TO OXFORD SCHOOLS AND
OXFORD SCHOOLS’ ATTORNEY, WE
HAVE YET TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM.
THOSE NAMED IN THE SUIT WHO
WORKED FOR SCHOOL, THE
COUNSELORS AND DEAN HAVE
PROTECTION FROM LAW.
HE EXPECTS THE CASE YEARS TO BE
RESOLVED.
>> Reporter: TATE MYRE’S FATHER
IS LOOKING FOR ANYTHING POSITIVE
TO COME OUT OF THIS STRATEGY.
>> Reporter: ANYTHING.
HE SAYS THE PLANS TO HELP OTHERS
THE 42 STRONG PROGRAM OR
FOUNDATION, IT IS A MENTORING
PROGRAM BEING FORMED ON TATE’S
NAME AND HIS FOOTBALL JERSEY
NUMBERS.
THE DAD SAYS TO MENTOR KIDS NOT
TO IGNORE THEM.
42 STRONG PROGRAM MORE AT 6:00,
MORE ON THAT.
>> LET’S TURN TO THE CRIMINAL
LAWSUIT AGAINST THE SUSPECT.
>> THEY PLAN TO PURSUE AN
INSANITY OFFENSE.
WE’LL WANT TO GET TO DEFENDER
KAREN DREW.
>> Reporter: ETHAN CRUMBLEY WILL
PLEAD INSANITY, THAT MEANS HIS
DEFENSE ATTORNEY MUST GIVE
NOTICE TO THE COURT, HIS
PROSECUTOR AND THE NEXT MOVE
ETHAN WILL BE EVALUATED BY THE
CENTER FOR FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY.
>> WAS ETHAN CRUMBLEY INSANE AT
THE SAME TIME HE WAS ACCUSED OF
SHOOTING.
NEXT STEP THE TEENAGER WILL BE
EVALUATED.
WE TALKED TO NEIL ROCKHIDE TO
HELP EXPLAIN THE PROCESS.
>> Reporter: GIVE HIM TESTS TO
SEE WHETHER OR NOT HE’S FAKING
IT OR MALINGERING OR WHETHER OR
NOT HE’S ACTING NOW LIKE
SOMEBODY THAT HAS A MENTAL
ILLNESS.
>> Reporter: IT WILL BE THE JOB
OF OAKLAND COUNTY PROSECUTOR TO
PROVE THAT CRUMBLEY WAS SANE AT
THE TIME OF THE MASS SHOOTING.
>> THE DEFENSE HAS SOME HURDLES
IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THEY
ARE THAT HE DIDN’T SHOOT UP THE
SCHOOL WHEN HIS PARENTS WERE
THERE.
THAT HE WAITED UNTIL AFTER HIS
PARENTS HAD LEFT.
THAT HE ARGUABLY WENT INTO A
BATHROOM.
THAT HE HAD A BACKPACK THAT HE
PULLED SOMETHING OUT OF THE
BACKPACK LIKE A GUN, ALL OF THAT
SHOWS CONCEALMENT, DESIGN, PLAN,
PURPOSE.
>> Reporter: SAYS IT CAN BE A
CHALLENGE TO ESTABLISH INSANITY
TWO THINGS NEED TO BE
ACCOMPLISHED.
>> ONE AT THE TIME OF THE
INCIDENT THAT HE WAS SUFFERING
FROM A MENTAL ILLNESS, TWO, AND
HE HAS TO SHOW AT THAT TIME THAT
DUE TO THE MENTAL ILLNESS, HE
WAS UNABLE TO APPRECIATE EITHER
THE NATURE OF HIS CONDUCT TO
DETERMINE WHAT WAS RIGHT OR WHAT
WAS WRONG, OR HE HAS TO
ESTABLISH THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO
RESIST AN IMPULSE.
>> MEANWHILE PREVIOUSLY STATED
THAT SHE HAD NO REASON TO
BELIEVE THAT THE MENTAL STATE
WOULD AFFECT HIS ABILITY TO FACE
CHARGES.
I DID REACH OUT TO HER TODAY AND
SHE DID NOT WANT TO COMMENT
FURTHER.
>> SHE HAS PORTRAYED THE OXFORD
HIGH STUDENT AS TROUBLED, A
PERSON WHO TORTURED ANIMALS AND
DID HAVE SOME DISTURBING
WRITINGS ON HIS HOMEWORK THE DAY
OF THE SHOOTING.
CLEARLY THERE’S A LOT THERE TO
UNPACK.
>> THANK YOU.
OXFORD HIGH SCHOOL SENT AN EMAIL
TO PARENTS ABOUT A SECURITY
BREACH ON CAMPUS.
THEY SAY A STUDENT WHO WAS NOT
ALLOWED TO BE AT THE SCHOOL
ENTERED THE BUILDING WITHOUT
PERMISSION.
WAS REMOVED WITHIN MINUTES.
THE STUDENT DID NOT POSE A
THREAT WAS THERE ACTUALLY WITH
THE INTENT OF ATTENDING CLASS.
>> WE HAVE BEEN WAKING UP TO
DANGEROUSLY COLD TEMPERATURES
EVERY DAY THIS WEEK.
UNFORTUNATELY IT DOES NOT LOOK
LIKE WE’LL GET A BREAK ANYTIME
SOON.
>> LET’S GET OVER TO PAUL FOR AN
UPDATE ON THE FORECAST.
SOME SNOWFLAKES, TOO, PAUL.
>> ANOTHER SURGE OF THIS ARCTIC
AIR AS WELL.
YOU CAN SEE THE CLOUDY SKIES
HERE.
WE’RE IN THE 20s RIGHT NOW.
WE’RE NOT GOING TO GET ALL
EXCITED ABOUT IT.
THIS IS THE WARMEST WE HAVE BEEN
IN A WHILE.
IT FEELS LIKE TEENS IF YOU HAVE
STEPPING OUT THE DOOR.
WE HAVE BATCHES OF LIGHT SNOW
HERE.
WE ARE GOING TO SEE SOME SNOW
SHOWERS THIS EVENING, VERY MINOR
ACCUMULATIONS, TENTHS OF AN INCH
IF EVEN THAT.
TEMPERATURES SLOW TO FALL THIS
EVENING.
AFTER THAT FRONT COMES THROUGH,
IT WILL START NOSE DIVING AND
BACK DOWN INTO THE SINGLE
DIGITS.
WE’LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT AND
THE WEEKEND FORECAST IN A FEW
MINUTES.
>> IN HER STATE OF THE STATE
ADDRESS, GOVERNOR WHITMER LAID
OUT HER PRIORITIES, INCLUDING
TARGETED TAX CUTS AND TODAY SHE
WENT AROUND TO SUPPORT IT.
>> THIS IS ALL HAPPENING AGAINST
THE UNMISTAKABLE SHADOW OF AN
ELECTION YEAR.
>> MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF
SURPLUS MONEY AND AN ELECTION
YEAR AND POLITICIANS WANTING TO
MAKE VOTERS HAPPY, WHAT DO YOU
INC. -- DO YOU THINK THEY TALK
ABOUT?
TAX CUTS.
>> THE QUESTION IS HOW DO YOU
GET THERE?
THE GOVERNOR CALLED FOR AN END
TO THE PENSION TAX.
THE GOVERNOR ALSO WANTS THE
EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT
INCREASED FOR LOW INCOME
FAMILIES.
>> IT IS OUR SENIORS AND WORKING
FAMILIES THAT NEED THE RELIEF
THE MOST AND IT IS THE MOST
EQUITABLE WAY TO ENSURE THAT
WE’RE PUTTING MONEY IN PEOPLE’S
POCKETS THAT WILL END UP IN OUR
ECONOMY AND BOOST AND SUPPORT.
>> THOSE ARE TARGETED TAX CUTS
AND THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
CHAIR SAYS THE GOVERNOR
SHOULDN’T BE PICKING AND
CHOOSING WHO GETS RELIEF.
>> WHAT WE REALLY NEED FOR
SENIORS IS AN ACROSS THE BOARD
TAX CUT.
>> HE POINTS TO RISING
INFLATION, TOO MANY OPEN JOBS
AND MICHIGANDERS OPTING TO MOVE
OUT OF THE STAFF AS SIGNS THAT
TAX RELIEF SHOULDN’T JUST GO TO
PENSIONERS WHEN SOME USING 401Ks
AND SENIORS WHO NEED TO WORK
WILL GET TAXED EVEN HIGHER.
>> SHE WANTED A TAX CUT FOR
PENSIONERS THAT WOULD BE
DIFFERENT FOR THOSE WHO RECEIVE
A DIVIDEND OR 401K OR AN IRA,
WHICH WOULD BE DIFFERENT FOR A
SENIOR WHO DIDN’T HAVE ANY OF
THOSE BUT HAD TO GO BACK TO
WORK.
>> WHAT HAPPENS HERE?
THE LEGISLATION CERTAINLY HAS
THESE BILLS ALREADY MOVING
THROUGH THE GOVERNOR KNOWS WHAT
SHE WANTS AND LIKELY TO GET AT
LEAST PART OF WHAT SHE WANTS.
THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS OF
COURSE.
THE GOVERNOR HAS GOT HER BUDGET
COMING UP IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
WE’LL PROBABLY GET MORE CLARITY
IN THE DAYS AHEAD.
>> ALL RIGHT.
ROD, SO AN UNUSUAL SITUATION.
THIS TIME AROUND THE STATE IS
QUITE FLUSH DUE TO A COMBINATION
OF HIGHER THAN EXPECTED REVENUE
AND THE PILE OF FEDERAL AID.
NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO AGREE
ON WHAT TO DO WITH THAT MONEY.
PILES OF CASH HAVE TAX CUT
FEVER.
WE HAVE TO SEPARATE LONG- TERM
GOALS FROM MONEY.
>> I’VE LAID OUT A NUMBER OF
WAYS THAT WE CAN STRATEGICALLY
USE ONE TIME DOLLARS ON WAYS
THAT PUT US ON A PATH TO
LONG-TERM PROSPERITY THAT DON’T
ANTICIPATE AN ONGOING RESOURCE.
>> WE’LL HAVE MORE CONVERSATION
WITH THE GOVERNOR INCLUDING
WHETHER THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE
INCENTIVES ARE AIMED AT THE
RIGHT PEOPLE COMING UP AT 6:00.
>> HANDING OUT FREE N AND K95
MASKS.
10 MILLION MASKS WILL BE
AVAILABLE AT ADMINISTRATIONS,
LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND THE
HEALTH OFFICES.
A NEW VARIANT HAS BEEN FOUND.
IT IS BEING CALLED THE STEALTH
VARIANT AND IT MAY BE EVEN MORE
TRANSMISSIBLE THAN OMICRON, BUT
THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT IT IS
NOT MORE DEADLY.
IN AN UPDATE TODAY.
DOCTORS FROM HENRY FORD HOSPITAL
SAY THEY ARE SEEING ENCOURAGING