PONTIAC, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – A group of families looking to hold the the Oxford School District partially responsible for a November 2021 shooting that left four students dead and seven others wounded won a court victory Friday.

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U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith ruled those families can pursue claims that the Oxford School District pushed Ethan Crumbley “closer to violent action” when it threatened to contact child-welfare authorities unless his parents quickly put the teenager into counseling.

Judge Goldsmith did dismiss other portions of the lawsuit. A similar but separate lawsuit in state court was dismissed in March based on governmental immunity.

Crumbley, who is currently 17 but was 15 at the time of the shooting, is awaiting sentencing for killing four students and wounding seven other people. A teacher found violent images drawn by Crumbley but administrators allowed him to stay in school. James and Jennifer Crumbley, Ethan’s parents, met with administrators the day of the shooting to discuss concerns but did not take him home. His backpack contained the gun and ammunition used in the shooting later that day but the backpack was never inspected.

James and Jennifer Crumbley are facing charges of involuntary manslaughter. Prosecutors said they bought the gun for Ethan days before the shooting, and failed to get him mental-health treatment.