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New evidence alleges Ethan Crumbley exhibited more warning signs ahead of school shooting

September 22, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(OXFORD, Mich.) — New evidence uncovered during discovery of the case of Ethan Crumbley allegedly shows that Oxford High School teachers and school officials failed to respond to warning signs exhibited by the accused school shooter in the months leading up to the November 2021 shooting, attorney Ven Johnson, who represents the victims and their families in a lawsuit, told reporters Thursday.

The evidence was allegedly uncovered as several lawsuits against the school, school officials, the school district, Crumbley and his parents have been filed. At least eight lawsuits accuse the school district and others of wrongdoing and failure to act in the months and days leading up to the shooting, despite teachers and counselors allegedly being aware of concerning behavior exhibited by the accused shooter.

Oakland County Circuit Judge Rae Lee Chabot ordered the release of evidence in June, including school surveillance footage from the shooting. District Court Judge Mark Goldsmith also enjoined coordinated discovery and other matters for eight civil lawsuits brought against the Oxford, Michigan, school and school officials.

Crumbley, who was a student at the school, is charged with 24 counts after he allegedly shot and killed four of his classmates on Nov. 30, 2021.

His parents, Jennifer and James Crumbley, are charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter after allegedly failing to recognize warning signs about their son in the months before the shooting.

All three Crumbleys have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Johnson, in a press conference Thursday, said new details were revealed after deposing teachers and school employees who had direct contact with the accused shooter prior to the Nov. 30 shooting, including email correspondence between school employees and several instances where Crumbley’s concerning behavior was not addressed.

Evidence allegedly uncovered included a school assignment submitted by Crumbley in late August 2021 on which he drew what Johnson alleged might be a magazine full of bullets, or a building. In sworn testimony, the teacher who discovered this drawing alleged she only saw the drawing on Nov. 29, just one day before the shooting.

In another instance, a Sept. 8 email from a Spanish teacher to the school’s counselor discusses a school assignment in which Crumbley allegedly wrote that he feels “terrible” and that his family “was a mistake,” Johnson said on Thursday.

Despite the school counselor being informed of this instance, the counselor allegedly never spoke to Crumbley, Johnson alleged.

Weeks later, a teacher sent an email to the school counselor on Nov. 10 raising concerns about Crumbley, saying he is having a rough time and that he may need to speak to the counselor, Johnson alleged.

The counselor testified in his deposition that he went down to Crumbley’s classroom and asked him to step out into the hallway. The counselor then allegedly told Crumbley that if he is having a tough time, the counselor was available to speak with him. Crumbley allegedly responded “okay,” according to Johnson.

Johnson criticized the counselor’s actions, saying more needed to be done and that the counselor needed to follow up with Crumbley, considering this was the second time concerning behavior had been flagged to the counselor. According to Johnson, another email uncovered was sent from a teacher to the dean of students and another school official, telling them that Crumbley was seen in class looking at photos of bullets on his cell phone. The teacher then looked at some of Crumbley’s previous work completed earlier in the year and said it “leans a bit toward the violent side,” Johnson alleges the email said.

The parents of Tate Myre, Justin Shilling and Keegan Gregory, all victims of the shooting, were present at the press conference with Johnson and criticized the school board’s lack of transparency in the months after the shooting, saying its members should resign. Its president resigned last week after receiving months of backlash.

The school board had declined several offers from the state attorney general to investigate the shooting, saying it will launch a third-party investigation as soon as litigation in civil suits brought against the district conclude.

Separately, a Michigan judge ruled Thursday that Ethan Crumbley will remain in Oakland County Jail for adults, as part of monthly procedural hearing. Crumbley’s trial was initially scheduled to begin in September, but was pushed to January 2023.

Attorneys for the Oxford Community School District did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment.

#iVoted Festival & Live Nation raffling tickets to Måneskin, The Smashing Pumpkins & more

September 22, 2022 by WDNY Radio

The #iVoted Festival and Live Nation have teamed up to raffle off tickets to shows by artists including Måneskin, The Smashing Pumpkins and Greta Van Fleet in an effort to encourage early voting for this year’s upcoming U.S. midterm elections.

To enter, eligible U.S. voters need to send in a selfie from outside of their polling place, or from home with their unmarked absentee ballot. If you’re not of voting age but still over 14, you can enter by sharing your first voting-eligible election year along with why you’re “excited to vote.”

The sweepstakes is also offering tickets to see artists including Dave Matthews Band, Turnstile, Phantogram, Palaye Royale, Barns Courtney, Matt Maeson, Judas Priest, I Prevail, Marcus Mumford, Silversun Pickups and The 1975.

You can enter between September 26 at noon ET and November 7 at 6 p.m. ET. Election Day is Tuesday, November 8. The virtual #iVoted Festival, featuring artists including Rise Against, Halestorm and The Revivalists, will air on Election Day.

For more info, visit iVotedFestival.org.

#iVoted Festival & Live Nation raffling tickets to shows by The Who, ZZ Top & more

September 22, 2022 by WDNY Radio

The #iVoted Festival and Live Nation have teamed up to raffle off tickets to shows by artists including The Who, ZZ Top and Earth, Wind & Fire in an effort to encourage early voting for this year’s upcoming U.S. midterm elections.

The sweepstakes is also offering tickets to see artists including Santana, 38 Special, The B-52s, Blue Oyster Cult, Smokey Robinson, Goo Goo Dolls, Chaka Khan, The Marshall Tucker Band and The Grateful Dead‘s Bob Weir.

You can enter between September 26 at noon ET and November 7 at 6 p.m. ET. Election Day is Tuesday, November 8. The virtual #iVoted Festival, featuring artists including Richard Marx, Los Lobos, Bruce Sudano, Jeffrey Gaines, Lake Street Dive, Umphrey’s McGee and Yacht Rock Revue, will air on Election Day.

For more info, visit iVotedFestival.org.

9-year-old boy seriously injured in bear attack while hunting in Alaska: Troopers

September 22, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(PALMER, Alaska) — Two people, including a 9-year-old boy, were injured in a bear attack while hunting in Alaska, authorities said.

The child suffered serious injuries, while a man sustained minor injuries, Alaska State Troopers said.

The incident occurred Tuesday around 6:30 p.m. local time near Palmer, located about 40 miles northeast of Anchorage, police said.

The pair, who are related, were hunting moose in the Palmer Hay Flats area, a state game refuge, Alaska State Troopers spokesperson Austin McDaniel told ABC News. Troopers did not specify their relationship.

They came upon a brown bear that then mauled the child, troopers said. The man shot and killed the bear during the attack, police said.

Troopers and EMS responding to the scene following reports of a bear attack found the two victims, who were taken to a hospital in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley area, troopers said.

McDaniel said the last report he received had the child listed in “fair condition.”

The brown bear was with a cub at the time of the attack. The Alaska Wildlife Troopers and Alaska Department of Fish and Game were unable to locate a cub in the area after ground and aerial searches, McDaniel said.

Footage shows Chaka Zulu was jumped before deadly shooting outside Atlanta restaurant

September 22, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Ludacris‘ longtime manager, Chaka Zulu, appears in recently released surveillance footage obtained by TMZ of a deadly Atlanta shooting. The video captures the moments before gunfire erupted outside of Chaka’s Atlanta restaurant, Apt4B.

In the clip, a group of men approach Chaka outside the restaurant, where a dispute reportedly made its way into the parking lot. One of the men, Tre’mon Robinson, had previously been asked to leave Apt4B, the outlet reports.

An argument ensues, and a man named Corey Crawford is spotted grabbing an object out of his car. He and his friends then join Robinson, who chest bumps Chaka, prompting the music executive to respond. As Chaka grabs Robinson, however, he’s attacked by Crawford and 23-year-old Artez Benton. Robinson, meanwhile, knocks Chaka’s assistant to the ground as she tries to help him, and Crawford hides between two vehicles.

Eventually, Chaka appears to fire his gun and hits Benton. Crawford then seems to follow with his own shots, one of which reportedly hit the music executive in the back. Benton, who’s seen crawling away in the footage, was struck in the chest. He later succumbed to his injuries.

Chaka is now facing charges of murder, aggravated assault, simple battery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. His lawyer, Gabe Bank, says Chaka acted in self-defense “after this gang repeatedly stomped, punched, and kicked him while he was on the ground in a defenseless posture.”

Tim Roth says he couldn’t believe it when the Marvel Cinematic Universe came calling for ‘She-Hulk’

September 22, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Acclaimed actor Tim Roth starred as Emil Blonsky/The Abomination in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, a job he tells ABC Audio he took enthusiastically, because he got “to play a monster.”

“You know, I just felt it was for the kids, when you’re picking them up at school,” he recalled with a laugh.

Roth says the Marvel Cinematic Universe “didn’t exist” when he did The Incredible Hulk.

“It was, you know, before Robert Downey and the Iron Man thing … I’m sure they saw potential, but we didn’t even think about it.”

Roth reprised his role within the MCU with a small scene in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which led directly to the events of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, in which he’s a recurring character.

“When they came to me … I said, ‘Really? OK!'” the Pulp Fiction star recalls.

However, performing in the show — sometimes in a motion-capture suit — was a different experience. “I had no idea how to operate within this world,” he admits.

Luckily, the “brilliant” Tatiana Maslany and Mark Ruffalo, Maslany’s onscreen cousin who plays Bruce Banner/The Incredible Hulk, showed Roth the ropes.

“Mark is someone I’ve always wanted to work with, so even under these bizarre and fun circumstances, I consider I’ve worked with him now,” Roth smiles. “So they gave me a quick a fast track education, how to operate within that, and figure out that world and … how to deliver.”

He says, “It was a lot of a lot of fun. It was, again, one for the kids, you know?”

A new episode of She-Hulk dropped Thursday on Disney+.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

Music notes: Taylor Swift, David Archuleta, Lindsey Stirling, Jewel, Harry Styles, Meghan Trainor and more

September 22, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Even Taylor Swift‘s mom says Taylor’s doppelgänger is Ashley Leechin. Leechin posted a reaction video to Taylor promoting Midnights and the singer commented, “My mom just saw this and said ‘she looks like you.'”

David Archuleta released the new song “Faith in Me” and is about to head out on a holiday tour. Tickets for his 14-date The More The Merrier Christmas Tour, starring November 18, are already on sale on his official website.

Lindsey Stirling is heading out on her Snow Waltz tour on November 17, in support of her newly announced album of the same name, which arrives October 7. She has released another song off the album, “Joy To The World,” which is inspired by Celtic music.

Jewel loves sleeping in a cold bedroom and dubs it “survival sleeping.” In a new TikTok, the hitmaker revealed, “I like it so cold in my room at night, that as I’m falling asleep, I wonder if I will make it through the night.” She wants to know if her fans are guilty of doing the same.

Harry Styles is teasing something new coming to his Pleasing beauty venture. He shared to Instagram a preview of people wearing bright clothes and wrote, “Coming soon. Find your pleasing.” Harry launched Pleasing in December.

Meghan Trainor revealed her favorite music videos to Allure. “All About That Bass,” “Lips Are Moving,” “Title,” “Me Too,” “Nice to Meet Ya” and “Bad for Me” are her picks, in chronological order.

Frankie Grande — Ariana Grande‘s big bro — revealed he defied Madonna‘s advice to not be in a throuple — or in a relationship with two other people. She told him, “That’s not going to end well,” and he admits to Billboard she was right.

Music notes: Jack Harlow, Lil Nas X, Lorde, Diplo, The Chainsmokers, Meghan Trainor and more

September 22, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Jack Harlow is this year’s Songwriter of the Year at the 2022 SESAC Music Awards — his second straight win. His Lil Nas X collaboration, “Industry Baby,” shared a win for Song of the Year with Glass Animals‘ “Heat Waves.”

Lil Nas X’s collaboration with M&M’s is here — colorful limited-edition packs meant to bring people together. “Growing up I would have never thought my face would be on M&M’S but here we are, and it’s amazing,” he said in a statement. A portion of M&M’S Packs Inspired by Lil Nas X sales will benefit the nonprofit Sing for Hope.

Lorde teased her new album at Primavera Sound Los Angeles, saying she’ll make an announcement “sometime soon,” reports Music News. The “Royals” singer hinted this album will feature more pop music.

Diplo was awarded a $1.2 million restraining order against a woman who’s been harassing him for two years, reports Pitchfork. The two have taken out orders against each other after their sexual relationship ended in 2020. Diplo’s attorney says “justice prevailed.”

Steve Jobs‘ daughter, Eve, is dating Drew Taggart, of The Chainsmokers, Us Weekly reports. A source said the pair started as a “casual summer fling.” Drew is 32 and Eve, a model, is 24.

Even Taylor Swift’s mom says Ashley Leechin is Taylor’s doppelgänger. Leechin posted a reaction video to Taylor promoting Midnights, on which Taylor commented, “My mom just saw this and said ‘she looks like you.'”

Frankie Grande — Ariana’s big bro — revealed he defied Madonna’s advice to not be in a throuple. She told him, “That’s not going to end well” — and he told Billboard she was right.

House Democrats notch legislative victory on policing before the midterms

September 22, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — House Democrats on Thursday managed to chalk up another major legislative win before the midterm elections, approving a long-delayed package of changes to policing and public safety.

Moderate and progressive Democrats hammered out a deal on Wednesday after frenetic negotiations — and on one of the House’s last working days before entering a recess that will stretch past the November races.

This new package of bills would fund recruitment and training for police departments across the country and includes new language on police accountability.

The House narrowly cleared a procedural vote on Thursday after a standstill on the floor after some progressive Democrats objected to terms of the deal. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., voted “present” so her vote wouldn’t count against Democrats in a planned move, which resulted in a 216-215-1 vote.

Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, one of of the key negotiators of the package, told reporters they had to make some last-minute updates to one of the pieces of legislation.

“There’s a lot of process, conversations that had to be had to be engaged in,” Omar said. “But we were ultimately hopefully successful. And I’m really proud of everyone for devoting as much energy to making sure our colleagues are able to pass their legislation.”

The four bills passed by slightly wider margins later Thursday afternoon. The package now heads to the Senate, where its fate is unclear.

To address mental health crises, one of the bills, sponsored by California Rep. Katie Porter, would create a grant program for departments to hire and dispatch mental health professionals — not law enforcement officers — in instances involving individuals with behavioral health needs.

The package also includes a bill from Nevada Rep. Steven Horsford that would direct the Justice Department to establish a grant program for local agencies to hire detectives and victim services personnel to investigate shootings.

The legislation targets funding to smaller police departments with fewer than 200 officers; gives the DOJ the ability to preference applicants that use the funds for officer training to improve community safety and accountability; and allows the funding to not only go to officer pay and training but also be used for data collection regarding police and community safety.

Progressives have said they were particularly concerned about providing more grants and funds to police departments without including requirements on accountability for officers’ actions.

Moderates have long insisted on bringing forth public safety bills as a way to fire back at Republican attacks that blame Democrats for rising crime. Polls show some key Senate races tightening, with GOP candidates pressing their opponents on the issue — often citing advocates’ “defund the police” slogan, despite Democratic leaders rejecting such messages.

While Republicans seek to paint Democrats as soft on crime, President Joe Biden has slammed members of the GOP both for denouncing federal law enforcement after an FBI search of former President Donald Trump’s residence last month and for expressing support for those who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Biden and Democrats pushed in the 2020 cycle for broader policing reform, including changes to the standard to prosecute police misconduct and qualified immunity, after the murder of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis.

But Senate Democrats ultimately failed to overcome Republican opposition to a major piece of legislation named after Floyd. Instead, Biden signed two smaller executive orders on policing earlier this year, on the second anniversary of Floyd’s death.

Omar, who represents the district in Minnesota where Floyd was killed, was one of the harshest critics of the ongoing police reform efforts but gave her approval on Wednesday.

The package, she said, is “evidence-based, holistic legislation that addresses public safety and unifies the Democratic Caucus.”

“After significant, deliberate negotiations, we are pleased to share that … the bill will include a number of reforms to ensure funds are used to support smaller police departments, to invest in de-escalation and other important training, and for data collection and mental health,” Omar and Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said in a joint statement.

One aspect of Trump, DOJ saga ‘a frolic and a detour,’ former federal prosecutor says

September 22, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — In another twist in the case against former President Donald Trump, who has been accused of keeping classified government material at his Mar-a-Lago estate, a panel of judges on the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Wednesday gave the Justice Department the OK to continue their investigation into the documents.

The panel also said the Justice Department no longer has to submit those materials to special master Raymond Dearie for his review.

ABC News contributor and former federal prosecutor Kan Nawaday spoke with ABC News Live Prime to discuss the significance of the court order.

ABC NEWS LIVE: This feels significant.

KAN NAWADAY: It is significant, but in my mind not surprising. What was really significant was the fact that the district court judge enjoined the DOJ from using documents in an ongoing criminal investigation. It’s basically following the law. So they’re basically doing frankly what the district court should have done below.

ABC NEWS LIVE: What does this mean now as far as the special master is appointed? It seems like that’s a moot point now.

NAWADAY: It is with respect to the classified documents. That whole special master thing with classified documents, that was a frolic and a detour.

ABC NEWS LIVE: At this point do you expect Trump’s team will appeal this decision?

NAWADAY: I think they will. I think they have shown they will litigate every point at every stage and take every opportunity they can.

I can see them trying to get an en banc hearing, meaning all of the judges in the 11th Circuit to decide on this. So I think they’re going to fight.

ABC NEWS LIVE: It seems the special master seems a little skeptical. They’re saying it feels like Trump’s lawyers are not providing enough significant or any documentation to suggest that Trump needed or declassified these documents.

NAWADAY: Exactly. They never did. They never did it before the district court, which is why everyone was surprised. Why is the district court having a special master to look into this? The special master said the same thing: ‘Wait, there’s no evidence that there was any declassification or any need.’ And now the 11th Circuit has found the same thing.

ABC NEWS LIVE: And let’s talk about Ginni Thomas, also a new development here. [She’s] the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. She’s now agreeing to voluntarily talk to the Jan. 6 committee.

NAWADAY: I think that is significant. She’s not making the Jan. 6 committee subpoena her. And we’ll see maybe one day what her testimony is. I think down the line, the fact that she is testifying, and is potentially a fact witness may have implications for Justice Thomas with respect for any case that ever goes up to the Supreme Court that may involve the testimony of his wife.

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