Michigan school shooting – latest: Parents met with teachers over Crumbley’s behaviour hours before incident

The 15-year-old shooter who opened fire on his Michigan high school has been identified by authorities as Ethan Crumbley.

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said Mr Crumbley will be charged as an adult with one count of terrorism, four counts of first-degree murder, seven counts of assault with intent to murder, 12 counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Ms McDonald said the charges stemmed from “undeniable” evidence that the attack was premeditated.

The charges were announced after death toll from the tragedy at Oxford High School rose to four as a 17-year-old boy, Justin Shilling, succumbed to his injuries. Three other students - 16-year-old Tate Myre, 14-year-old Hana St Juliana, and 17-year-old Madisyn Baldwin - were confirmed dead on Tuesday and seven other victims were wounded.

Meanwhile, it came to light that Mr Crumbley’s parents were in the school just hours prior to the shooting for a face to face meeting with school authorities over their son’s behaviour.

Mr Crumbley, who is now in police custody, is believed to have used a semi-automatic handgun his father purchased on Black Friday. He was arraigned on Wednesday afternoon and ordered to be held without bond at Oakland County Jail.

The teen allegedly posted a chilling countdown on Instagram hours before the shooting, writing: “Now I become death -- destroyer of worlds -- see you tomorrow Oxford.”

Read More

Oxford school shooting: Gunman identified and charged with terrorism and murder

Oxford school shooting: Ethan Crumbley appears in court accused of ‘methodically’ gunning down fellow students

Ethan Crumbley: Everything we know about the Oxford school shooting suspect

Oxford school shooting: Who are the four teens gunned down ‘at random’ by suspect Ethan Crumbley?

Key Points

• Crumbley’s parents were in school hours before shooting

• Suspect allegedly shared ‘countdown’ on Instagram before shooting

• Cops probe ‘copycat threat’ at nearby schools

• Parents, student say there were prior threats of shooting

• Investigators remove cache of weapons from suspect’s home

• What we know about the three teens killed

Michigan school massacre suspect’s mother wrote open letter to Trump praising his support for gun rights

10:40 , Eleanor Sly

More details are emerging about Ethan Crumbley, the 15-year-old charged with murder and terrorism for allegedly shooting and killing four students and wounding seven at a Michigan high school on Tuesday.

Mr Crumbley, who was arraigned on Wednesday in Michigan court and charged with 24 different counts as an adult, apparently came from a family that was supportive of possessing guns.

Jennifer Crumbley, 43, Mr Crumbley’s mother, wrote an open letter to then president-elect Donald Trump on her blog in November 2016, The Daily Beast first reported.

Josh Marcus reports:

Michigan school shooting suspect’s mom wrote blog to Trump praising support for guns

Oxford school shooting: Who are the four teens gunned down ‘at random’ by suspect Ethan Crumbley?

10:00 , Eleanor Sly

A tight-knit community in Michigan is mourning the loss of four students allegedly killed by a classmate who opened fire indiscriminately in the halls of their high school.

Three students were confirmed dead hours after the shooting at Oxford High School on Tuesday: Tate Myre, 16; Madisyn Baldwin, 17; and 14-year-old Hana St Juliana.

A fourth student, 17-year-old Justin Shilling, succumbed to injuries in a hospital on Wednesday.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar has more:

Oxford school shooting: The four teens shot dead at random by suspect Ethan Crumbley

Oxford High School shooting: Everything we know about deadly Michigan attack and suspect Ethan Crumbley

09:25 , Eleanor Sly

Four students were killed and at least eight others injured in a mass shooting at a suburban high school in Michigan on Tuesday afternoon.

The suspected shooter, 15-year-old sophomore Ethan Crumbley, was taken into custody by police in response to the incident at Oxford High School in Oxford Township, a community of 22,000 people 30 miles north of Detroit, and a semi-automatic handgun was recovered.

On Wednesday Mr Crumbley appeared virtually in court to hear charges of terrorism and first degree murder, to which he pled not guilty. Prosecutors accused him of “methodically and deliberately” firing on his fellow students.

Joe Sommerlad reports:

Everything we know about the Oxford High School shooting

Oxford school shooting deadliest since May 2018

08:46 , Eleanor Sly

The Oxford school shooting was the deadliest since May 2018, according to Education Week.

The publication reported that there have been 29 school shootings this year, of which 21 occurred after 1 August.

Since 2018, there have been 87 school shootings, although the pandemic appears to have interrupted the trend with 10 taking place in 2020.

This drop in numbers could well be due to a shift to remote learning, brought in to try and combat the spread of Covid-19.

Why the Michigan school shooter is facing a rare charge of terrorism

07:51 , Eleanor Sly

The 15-year-old boy who opened fire, killing at least four students at the Oxford High School in Michigan, was charged with terrorism on Wednesday.

Ethan Crumbley was also charged with four counts of first-degree murder, seven counts of assault with intent to murder, and 12 counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

The accused was charged under the state’s 2002 anti-terrorism law which was enacted in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. The anti-terrorism law defines a terroristic act as one intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population or to affect the conduct of a government through intimidation or coercion.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar reports:

Why the Michigan school shooter is facing a rare charge of terrorism

School training programme ‘saved lives’

07:05 , Shweta Sharma

Oakland County sheriff Michael Bouchard said the consequences of the shooting at Oxford High School could have been even worse if students had not been trained to take the measures they did.

“It is also evident from the scene that the lockdown protocols, training and equipment Oxford schools had in place saved lives,” he said in a statement.

According to students, the training program Alice — an acronym for alert, lockdown, inform, counter and evacuate – was activated following a message over the speakers in the school.

The shooting lasted for five minutes during which videos and pictures showed how students implemented the learning from the drills.

In one video, students barricaded the classroom and refused to open the door for a person who claimed to be a police officer.

“We’re not taking that risk right now,” a student says in the video while another called his usage of the word “bro” a red flag.

Even as the sheriff’s office later confirmed it was not the gunman on the door pretending to be an officer, the students are being lauded for showing presence of mind.

“When you go into lockdown mode, the administrative group, or the teachers who received this training, are told not to open doors until they receive a signal. The all clear signal, which is predetermined,” Jim Maxwell, a former FBI agent said on NewsNation Now.

“These students were on their own and they evaluated this correctly and did the right thing.”

Prosecutor describes interaction with suspect's parents as ‘difficult’

06:30 , Shweta Sharma

As Oakland prosecutors are considering charges against Ethan Crumbley’s parents, prosecutor Karan McDonald used just one word to describe her interaction with them so far.

“Difficult,” said Ms McDonald, according to Fox2detroit.

She said they are considering charging the parents as well because “owning a gun means securing it properly and locking it and keeping the ammunition separate”.

“We will be making a decision swiftly,” Ms McDonald said.

It is not clear yet how Mr Crumbley was able to get his hands on his father’s Sig Sauer SP 2022, which was purchased four days prior to the shooting.

Woman who harboured students describes 'surreal' scenes

06:00 , Shweta Sharma

Dozens of students from Oxford High School took shelter in Kimberly Katsock-Gibbs’ house across the road as the bloodshed unfolded on the school’s premises.

Ms Katsock-Gibbs told NBC that she saw students “pouring out” of windows and hearing gunshots, describing the scenes as “surreal” and “horrible”.

“I came and walked out of the house to come out and see what was going on and I heard ‘pop, pop, pop.’ I heard the gunshots,” Ms Katsock-Gibbs said. “And I just seen all these kids, like three per window ... just trying to get out of these windows. It was horrible.”

She said several children crowded in her driveway and she asked them to go inside her home.

“It was, like, surreal. It was — I’m looking at the windows right now, and I still don’t know how these kids were on top of each other pouring out of them. There’s no room. They’re so small,” she said.

Ms Katsock-Gibbs said everything happened as she panicked about her own son, who was out nearby, and she tried to call police without success.

Her husband then blocked traffic so that more children could run into their home, she said.

“They were terrified. They were in shock. They were crying. They were hugging each other,” she said, adding that they have been “traumatised for life”.

Terrorism charge ‘not usual, typical' says prosecutor

05:30 , Shweta Sharma

Talking about why the Michigan school shooting Ethan Crumbley has been charged with terrorism, Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald admitted “it’s not a usual, a typical charge” but said the four killed in the attack were not the only victims.

“What about all the children who ran, screaming, hiding under desks? What about all the children at home right now, who can’t eat and can’t sleep and can’t imagine a world where they could ever step foot back in that school?” Ms McDonald said.

“Those are victims, too, and so are their families and so is the community. The charge of terrorism reflects that,” she added.

Mr Crumbley, 15, has been charged as an adult with terrorism, four counts of first-degree murder and other gun crimes. He faces life in prison on both the terrorism and murder counts. He has pleaded not guilty.

Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said he “100 per cent” supports the terrorism charge against Mr Crumbley.

“If you weren’t hit by a bullet, it doesn’t mean you weren’t terrorised that day and won’t have nightmares about (it) the rest of your life — whether you’re a parent, a teacher or a student in that class,” he said.

Crumbley’s parents were in school hours before shooting

05:00 , Shweta Sharma

The parents of the suspect in the deadly Oxford High School shooting, Ethan Crumbley, were in the school earlier that day and met face to face with school authorities just hours before the shooting.

“The suspect had been involved in a meeting over behaviour issues the prior day and the day of the shooting,” the sheriff’s office said.

Just three hours after the meeting, Mr Crumbley walked out of the school bathroom with a handgun and began shooting, killing four students.

Three victims of the shooting remain hospitalised as of Thursday while four others have been treated and released.

Ethan Crumbley still had 18 rounds when arrested

04:30 , Shweta Sharma

The teen suspect of the Michigan shooting, Ethan Crumbley, still had 18 live rounds in his possession when he was arrested by authorities, Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said.

Additionally, three magazines were recovered at the scene.

Mr Crumbley fired 30 gunshots before he was arrested on Tuesday.

Why was the Oxford shooting suspect charged with terrorism?

04:00 , Josh Marcus

Ethan Crumbley, the 15-year-old suspect in the Oxford, Michigan, school shooting, has been charged with terrorism, though so far no clear ideological motive has emerged in the case.

Instead, the charge likely relies on a unique facet of Michigan law.

“Michigan state charges of terrorism are not how we normally think about them,” national security expert Juliette Kayyem told CNN. “They go to intimidation or felony and death, to intimidate a civilian population or the government, so you can — by killing, that’s intimidating, of course of coercion. We have to take a political motivation out of this right now.”Oakland County prosecutor Karen D McDonald explained her rationale for pursuing the charge during a news conference on Wednesday.“What about all these other children, what about all the children who ran, screaming, hiding under desks,” she said. “What about all the children at home right now who can’t eat and can’t sleep and can’t imagine a world where they could ever step back in school – those are victims too and so are their families and so is the community and the charge of terrorism reflects that.”

Mr Crumbley has been charged as an adult for his alleged crimes during the shooting, which killed four students and injured numerous others.

Parkland school shooting survivor calls on Congress to abolish filibuster

03:40 , Josh Marcus

Parkland school shooting survivor David Hogg called on Congress to abolish the filibuster, arguing on Wednesday the de facto 60-vote requirement to pass laws through the Senate was hampering reform on key topics like the climate crisis and gun control.

Here’s what he had to say.

ICYMI: Everything we know about the deadly Oxford school shooting

03:10 , Josh Marcus

Four students were killed and at least eight others injured in a mass shooting at a suburban high school in Michigan on Tuesday.

The suspected shooter, 15-year-old sophomore Ethan Crumbley, was taken into custody by police in response to the incident at Oxford High School in Oxford Township, a community of 22,000 people 30 miles north of Detroit, and a semi-automatic handgun was recovered.

On Wednesday Mr Crumbley appeared virtually in court to hear charges of terrorism and first degree murder, to which he pled not guilty. Prosecutors accused him of “methodically and deliberately” walking the halls of his school and shooting fellow students.

Here’s what you need to know about the shooting.

Everything we know about the Oxford High School shooting

Who is Ethan Crumbley?

02:40 , Josh Marcus

Who is Ethan Crumbley, the 15-year-old charged with killing four and injuring many more during a school shooting at a Michigan high school?

Joe Sommerlad has this primer on the teenager at the center of the tragic killing.

Ethan Crumbley: Everything we know about the Oxford school shooting suspect

Context: How America became awash with guns during the pandemic

02:10 , Josh Marcus

A combination of a contentious 2020 election, widespread national protests and riots, and the ongoing pandemic have left Americans on edge—and buying record amounts of guns.

Here’s The Independent’s reporting on the surge in firearms sales and its deadly consequences.

Americans buy record number of guns ahead of election

Gun sales continuing to spike as officials say they fear summer of violence with crime rates rising

430 dead in one week as US heads for worst year of gun violence in decades

Voices: The sexist truth about gun violence a lot of powerful people don’t want you to know

01:50 , Josh Marcus

As the nation ponders what led to the horrific shooting in Oxford, Michigan, it’s worth thinking about the big-picture trends in gun violence across America.

Earlier this year, Carli Pierson had this powerful Voices piece on the under-reported gender dynamics in many mass shootings.

In it, she describes, how according to Everytown Research & Policy, in more than half of mass shootings over the past ten years, the perpetrator shot a current or former intimate partner or family member in their murderous frenzy. Every month, about 57 women are shot and killed in an act of domestic violence in the United States. A million women alive today have reported being shot, or shot at, by their partners, former partners or a family member and 4.5 million women have reported being threatened with a gun by an intimate partner.

Read more below.

The sexist truth about gun violence a lot of powerful people don’t want you to know | Carli Pierson

WATCH: Ethan Crumbley appears in court accused of ‘methodically’ gunning down fellow students

01:30 , Josh Marcus

Oxford school shooting suspect Ethan Crumbley appeared for the first time in court on Wednesday, where he was accused of “methodically” killing four students and injuring numerous others at a high school in Michigan.

Watch video of his appearance below.

Ethan Crumbley’s mother wrote letter to Trump praising support for guns

01:12 , Josh Marcus

Wednesday marked the first time that Oxford, Michigan, school shooting suspect Ethan Crumbley, 15, appeared in court, yielding new details about the alleged shooter, including his family’s supportive stance towards guns.

Jennifer Crumbley, 43, Mr Crumbley’s mother, wrote an open letter to then president-elect Donald Trump on her blog in November 2016.

“As a female and a Realtor, thank you for allowing my right to bear arms,” she wrote. “Allowing me to be protected if I show a home to someone with bad intentions. Thank you for respecting that Amendment.”

The semi-automatic hand gun Mr Crumbley used to allegedly kill four students and wound many more was legally purchased by his father, James Crumbley, Oakland County sheriff Michael Bouchard said on Wednesday.

Prosecutors have indicated they may be considering additional charges against Ethan Crumbley’s parents.

Ethan Crumbley arrives in county jail

00:50 , Josh Marcus

Oxford high school mass shooting suspect Ethan Crumbley has arrived at Oakland County Jail in Michigan for processing.

The 15-year-old, who was charged as an adult with murder and terrorism after allegedly killing four students and injuring many more, was moved from a juvenile facility, after prosecutors argued he posed a threat to the other youths inside.

Another day, another shooting in America

00:30 , Josh Marcus

As the country was reeling from the mass shooting in Oxford, Michigan, which killed four people, another four people were shot in Georgia on Tuesday during a domestic disturbance.

Here’s our report on what happened.

4 killed, including officer and suspect, in Georgia shooting

WATCH: Michigan governor demands gun reform

00:10 , Josh Marcus

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer demanded action on “the gun violence public health crisis” in a video statement on Wednesday afternoon.

“Yesterday was every student’s, teacher’s and parent’s worst nightmare. The death of multiple students and the shooting of others, including a teacher, at Oxford High School is horrific,” she said in the video posted to Twitter.

“This is a time for Michiganders to come together for the Oxford community. We have to wrap our arms around this town that’s going through unimaginable pain and heartbreak.

“We have to build a state where no one is afraid to go school, or work, or house of worship, or even their own home.”

Watch the governor’s full statement below:

‘Now I become death’: Michigan suspect posted ominous messages before shooting, reports say

Wednesday 1 December 2021 23:50 , Josh Marcus

The suspect in Tuesday’s school shooting in Oxford, Michigan posted ominous messages and a photo of his gun in the days before the crime, local reports say.

“Now I become death – destroyer of worlds – see you tomorrow Oxford,” he wrote menacingly on Monday, according to Fox 2 Detroit.

Oakland County prosecutors identified the suspect on Wednesday as 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley, a sophomore at Oxford High School. He is being charged as an adult, and faces four counts of murder, one count of terrorism, seven counts of assault with intent to murder, and other charges.

The Independent’s Nathan Place has the story.

Michigan suspect posted ominous messages before shooting, reports say

Ethan Crumbley to be transferred out of juvenile detention because of security risks

Wednesday 1 December 2021 23:20 , Josh Marcus

Ethan Crumbley, the suspect in the brutal Oxford, Michigan, high school shooting, will be moved out of juvenile detention and will not get bond, a court decided on Wednesday.

Prosecutors asked that the 15-year-old suspect, who has been charged with murder and terrorism after allegedly killing four students, be transferred to a county jail and denied the ability to leave because of the threat he poses to other juveniles. The court agreed.

Oxford school shooting: Ethan Crumbley appears in court accused of ‘methodically’ gunning down fellow students

Wednesday 1 December 2021 22:49 , Josh Marcus

Michigan school shooting suspect Ethan Crumbley has been formally arraigned in court with charges of terrorism and first degree murder.

Mr Crumbley, a student at Oxford High School in Oxford, Michigan, appeared virtually before a judge on Wednesday accused of “methodically and deliberately” gunning down his fellow students.

The 15-year-old calmly told Judge Nancy Carniak that he understood the 24 charges against him, and Judge Carniak entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

Io Dodds has the details.

Michigan shooting suspect in court accused of ‘methodically’ gunning down students

Four injured victims still hospitalized

Wednesday 1 December 2021 22:30 , Megan Sheets

Four of the seven victims injured in Tuesday’s shooting remained hospitalised as of Wednesday afternoon.

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard provided an update on the victims’ conditions at a press conference shortly after prosecutors announced charges against suspect Ethan Crumbley.

Those still hospitalised include a 14-year-old girl in stable condition and a 17-year-old girl in critical condition.

Here’s what we know about the victims killed:

Oxford school shooting: The four teens shot dead at random by suspect Ethan Crumbley

Suspect to be held without bail

Wednesday 1 December 2021 22:00 , Megan Sheets

Ethan Crumbley was ordered to be held without bail at his arraignment on 24 charges on Wednesday afternoon.

Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Marc Keast made a passionate case for Mr Crumbley to be transferred from a juvenile centre to Oakland County Jail and to have bond denied.

Rochester Hills District Judge Nancy T Carniak agreed on both issues.

Ethan Crumbley appears at arraignment

Wednesday 1 December 2021 21:51 , Megan Sheets

Suspect Ethan Crumbley was arraigned on Wednesday afternoon on 24 charges for carrying out a mass shooting at Oxford High School.

He appeared in court via video conference from Oakland County Children’s Village, a juvenile centre where he is being held on suicide watch.

Asked if he understands the charges against him, Mr Crumbley replied: “Yes, I do.”

His parents also joined the hearing remotely.

Suspect did not pretend to be with sheriff’s department, cops say

Wednesday 1 December 2021 21:40 , Megan Sheets

Contrary to previous reports, investigators do not believe suspect Ethan Crumbley pretended to be a member of law enforcement during Tuesday’s deadly rampage.

Those claims emerged after a video of students cowering in a classroom went viral.

“Sheriff’s office,” a male voice is heard saying. “You can come out.”

One of the hiding students whispers: “He said it’s safe to come out,” to which another replies: “We’re not willing to take that risk right now.”

The voice on the other side responds: “Come to the door and see my badge, bro.”

That word sparked a panic in the classroom, prompting the students to flee out a window.

“He said bro. Red flag,” a student said.

Sheriff Michael Bouchard denied rumours surrounding the video at a press conference on Wednesday, saying the suspect did not knock on any classroom doors.

He said the voice in the video was likely a real member of the sheriff’s department who used the word “bro” to sound conversational.

Suspect had meeting with parents, school officials prior to shooting

Wednesday 1 December 2021 21:20 , Megan Sheets

Suspect Ethan Crumbley had a meeting with administrators and his parents on Tuesday morning before he opened fire on classmates at Oxford High School, Sheriff Michael Bouchard said Wednesday.

He did not disclose details about what sparked the meeting, or whether Mr Crumbley knew about it before being called in.

The sheriff said investigators believe the gun was already on campus before the shooting, but said that has yet to be confirmed.

Suspect filmed coming out of bathroom and firing at random

Wednesday 1 December 2021 20:58 , Megan Sheets

Oxford High School shooting suspect Ethan Crumbley came out firing from a bathroom, authorities revealed after reviewing surveillance footage.

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard told reporters on Wednesday that law enforcement officials were going through hours of video from cameras across the school to map the suspect’s actions, but said that his targets “appeared random”.

He added that the shootings were “absolutely brutally cold-hearted” but that no motive has been identified.

The Independent’s Gustaf Kilander reports:

Video captured Oxford shooting suspect coming out of bathroom and firing at random

Prosecutor explains terrorism charge

Wednesday 1 December 2021 20:40 , Megan Sheets

As to explain the terrorism charge against Mr Crumbley, Prosecutor Karen McDonald noted “all the children who ran screaming” when gunfire rang out in the Oxford High School hall.

She said it was important to remember that the people shot were not the only victims of the attack.

“What about all the children at home right now who can’t eat and can’t sleep and can’t imagine a world where they could ever set foot back in that school?” she asked.

“Those are victims too, and so are their families, and so is the community. And the charge of terrorism reflects that.”

The charges against Ethan Crumbley

Wednesday 1 December 2021 20:20 , Megan Sheets

Here are the charges prosecutors plan to bring against Ethan Crumbley:

• One count of terrorism

• Four counts of first-degree murder

• Seven counts of assault with intent to murder

• 12 counts of possession of a firearm in commission of a crime

Ethan Crumbley’s parents could face charges

Wednesday 1 December 2021 20:00 , Megan Sheets

Prosecutor Karen McDonald said her office is weighing possible charges against suspect Ethan Crumbley’s parents, saying more information on that topic would be revealed in the coming days.

Mr Crumbley was said to have carried out the shooting with a handgun purchased by his father four days prior on Black Friday. Ms McDonald would not say whether investigators think the parents gave the gun to their son, or if he took it without permission.

The parents had refused to allow their son to speak to investigators following his arrest on Tuesday, Undersheriff Mike McCabe said.

Ethan Crumbley planned shooting well in advance

Wednesday 1 December 2021 19:34 , Megan Sheets

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said investigators found “undeniable” evidence that the shooting was premeditated during Wednesday’s press conference.

She said the evidence supports the four counts of first-degree murder that her office will bring against suspect Ethan Crumbley.

“We wouldn’t bring those charges if we couldn’t prove it was premeditated,” she said.

Ms McDonald refused to specify how far in advance the shooting was planned, or whether investigators believe Mr Crumbley targeted specific students.

Shooting suspect identified as Ethan Crumbley

Wednesday 1 December 2021 19:15 , Megan Sheets

Officials identified the suspect in the Oxford High School shooting as Ethan Crumbley at a press conference on Wednesday.

His name was released because he is being charged as an adult, despite being only 15 years old.

Oakland County prosecutors said they will bring charges of terrorism, first-degree murder, assault with intent to murder, and possession of a firearm in commission of a felony.

The Independent’s Gustaf Kilander reports:

Oxford school shooting: Gunman identified and charged with terrorism and murder

Prosecutors to announce charges against suspect

Wednesday 1 December 2021 18:52 , Megan Sheets

Prosecutors are expected to announce charges against the 15-year-old accused of shooting up Oxford High School at a 2pm press conference on Wednesday.

His name could be released at that time if prosecutors opt to charge him as an adult.

Detroit sports teams share heartbreak over shooting

Wednesday 1 December 2021 18:35 , Megan Sheets

The coaches of Detroit’s Red wings hockey team and Pistons basketball team reacted to the Oxford High School shooting in horror at press conferences on Tuesday.

Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill fought back tears as he told a press conference: “I just want to send out my prayers to the families that were affected today in Oxford. It’s a terrible, terrible thing. It just shouldn’t happen.

“Nothing I say certainly can do anything to help those that suffered the tragedy, that lost their lives. It’s insane that this is somewhat normal and it just shouldn’t happen. My heart goes out to everybody involved, everybody at the school, the community. It’s got to stop.”

Pistons coach Dwane Casey also condemned the “senseless act”.

“It bothers you that you can’t send your kids to school and expect them to be safe,” he said.

Everything we know about the teen suspect

Wednesday 1 December 2021 18:00 , Megan Sheets

Few details are known about the suspect in Tuesday’s shooting, who was taken into custody within about five minutes of the first 911 call about gunfire on the Oxford High School campus.

Oakland County Undersheriff Mike McCabe said the 15-year-old sophomore - who has not been named due to his age - did not offer any resistance when he was arrested, simply putting his hands on his head and surrendering.

A motive for the attack has not yet been established, according to the undersheriff, as the teen invoked his right to an attorney and declined to speak to officers, apparently on the instruction of his parents.

Mr McCabe said investigators planned to examine his smartphone and social media posts as they search for clues pointing to a possible motive and that they have already executed a search warrant on his house, retrieving several items, notably a cache of weapons including long guns.

The Independent’s Joe Sommerlad explains everything we know so far about the shooter:

Everything we know about the Oxford school shooting suspect

Death toll rises to four as 17-year-old boy dies

Wednesday 1 December 2021 17:32 , Megan Sheets

A 17-year-old boy who was shot in Tuesday’s mass shooting at Oxford High School has died, authorities announced Wednesday.

His passing raised the death toll from the shooting to four, with seven others injured.

The student’s name has not yet been released. The other students killed were 16-year-old Tate Myre, 14-year-old Hana St Juliana, and 17-year-old Madisyn Baldwin.

The Independent’s Gustaf Kilander reports:

Fourth student dies after Michigan high school shooting

Suspect allegedly shared ‘countdown’ on Instagram before shooting

Wednesday 1 December 2021 17:19 , Megan Sheets

The 15-year-old student suspected of carrying out a mass shooting at Oxford High School on Tuesday allegedly posted a “countdown” on Instagram hours before his attack.

“Now I become death -- destroyer of worlds -- see you tomorrow Oxford,” he wrote, according to FOX 2 Detroit.

The suspect also allegedly shared a photo of the gun he used in the shooting, which police believe was purchased by his father four days earlier on Black Friday.

Investigators are combing his social media accounts in an effort to determine his motive.

The accounts were removed from public view shortly after the shooting.

Cops probe ‘copycat threat’ against high schools near Oxford

Wednesday 1 December 2021 17:00 , Megan Sheets

Authorities are said to be investigating a “general threat” made against Michigan high schools in the wake of Tuesday’s shooting in Oxford Township.

The Avondale School District, about 20 miles south of Oxford, announced the alleged threat in an alert on Wednesday morning. The district closed its campuses as a precaution.

Schools in neighbouring Pontiac were also shuttered on Wednesday after officials said a “copycat threat” had been made.

Police have said the 15-year-old suspected shooter in the attack at Oxford High School appears to have acted alone. The investigation into that shooting is ongoing.

WATCH: Three students recount deadly shooting

Wednesday 1 December 2021 16:40 , Megan Sheets

Three students who witnessed the deadly shooting at Oxford High School on Tuesday shared their accounts with the New York Times.

They described the “boom, boom, boom” of the gun, silently cowering in the corner of a classroom and a “trail of blood” in the hallway.

Watch the interviews below:

School officials dismissed campus ‘threat’ three weeks before shooting

Wednesday 1 December 2021 16:17 , Megan Sheets

Oxford High School officials sent a letter to parents dismissing the existence of safety threats on campus three weeks before Tuesday’s deadly shooting.

In the wake of the shooting, reports emerged that threats of violence had circulated among the student body in the weeks prior.

Those claims appear to be related to a vague letter administrators sent to parents on 12 November.

“We are aware of the numerous rumors that have been circulating throughout our building this week. We understand that has created some concern for students and parents,” the letter states.

“Please know that we have reviewed every concern shared with us and investigated all information provided. Some rumors have evolved from an incident last week, while others do not appear to have any connection. Student interpretations of social media posts and false information have exacerbated the overall concern.

“We want our parents and students to know there has been no threat to our building nor our students.”

The Independent’s Megan Sheets reports:

Shooting threats made on Michigan school campus before deadly attack, student says

Republicans admonished amid abortion rights comparisons

Wednesday 1 December 2021 15:55 , Megan Sheets

Critics of looser gun control laws in the US have compared the attack on the school in Oxford, Michigan, to the ongoing Supreme Court consideration of abortion rights.

Igor Volsky, the executive of director of the Guns Down America campaign group, admonished Republicans in Congress for discussing the “sanctity of life” and abortion restrictions as “news breaks of another school shooting” on Tuesday, adding: “Too bad that doesn’t apply to those killed by firearms.”

As did Connecticut senator Chris Murphy, who said he “turned the car around” on his way from work on Tuesday to address his colleagues, many of whom he accused of holding up America’s gun lobby and “lecturing us on the sanctity of life”.

WATCH: Cops remove cache of weapons from suspect’s home

Wednesday 1 December 2021 15:35 , Megan Sheets

Police were seen seizing a number of weapons - including some that appeared to be long guns - from the suspected shooter’s home in Oxford on Tuesday night.

The 15-year-old allegedly used a semi-automatic handgun in his shooting rampage earlier in the day. Cops believe the gun had been purchased by the suspect’s father on Black Friday last week.

The seizures at his home were made as investigators continue efforts to uncover the motive for the shooting.

Three injured students in critical condition

Wednesday 1 December 2021 15:15 , Megan Sheets

Eight people - seven students and one teacher - were injured in Tuesday’s shooting at Oxford High School.

The seven students ranged in age from 14 to 17, officials said.

As of Tuesday night three students were in critical condition, including a 15-year-old boy who was shot in the head, a 17-year-old girl who was shot in the chest, and a 14-year-old girl who was shot in the chest and neck. The younger girl was put on a ventilator and police said things are looking “very tough” for her.

A 14-year-old boy was in serious condition on Tuesday night, while three other students - a 17-year-old girl, 15-year-old boy, and 17-year-old boy - were in stable condition.

The 47-year-old teacher injured has already been discharged from the hospital.

None of the injured victims have been named publicly as of Tuesday morning.

Who are the victims?

Wednesday 1 December 2021 14:55 , Megan Sheets

The victims of the shooting that occurred on Tuesday have been identified as Tate Myre, 16, Madisyn Baldwin, 17, and 14-year-old Hanna St Julian. Eight other students sustained injuries in the attack.

Seven other students, aged between 14 and 17, remained hospitalised with gunshot wounds, including a 14-year-old girl on ventilator after undergoing surgery. A teacher who received a graze wound to the shoulder was discharged from hospital.

Our reporter Alisha Rahaman Sarkar has the details.

‘Great young man with bright future’: Footballer among victims in Michigan shooting

RECAP: Everything we know about the Oxford High School shooting

Wednesday 1 December 2021 14:35 , Megan Sheets

Three students were killed and at least eight others injured in a mass shooting at a suburban high school in Michigan on Tuesday.

The suspected shooter, a 15-year-old sophomore, was taken into custody by police in response to the incident at Oxford High School in Oxford Township, a community of 22,000 people 30 miles north of Detroit, and a semi-automatic handgun was recovered.

Oakland County undersheriff Mike McCabe said the suspect had not offered any resistance when he was apprehended - within five minutes of the first 911 call being received – and that a motive for the attack had not yet been established, the boy having invoked his right to an attorney and declined to speak to officers.

The Independent’s Joe Sommerlad explains everything we know about the shooting so far:

Everything we know about the Oxford High School shooting

‘We grabbed calculators and scissors’

Wednesday 1 December 2021 14:15 , Megan Sheets

Students of Oxford High School have recalled grabbing scissors to defend themselves during the shooting that killed three of their classmates and injured eight more on Tuesday.

Aiden Page, a student at the school, said a bullet pierced one of the desks that he and other students had used to barricade the classroom door.

“We heard two gunshots and after that, my teacher ran into the room, locked it, we barricaded and then we covered the windows and hid,” said the student. “We grabbed calculators, we grabbed scissors just in case the shooter got in and we had to attack them.”

Our reporter Sravasti Dasgupta has the details.

Oxford school shooting survivor says classmates grabbed calculators and scissors

Suspect’s phone being searched, officials say

Wednesday 1 December 2021 13:50 , Megan Sheets

Officials in Oakland County, Michigan, have said they are searching the mobile phone belonging to the 15-year-old suspect who was arrested on Tuesday.

The phone will be searched, along with the suspect’s social media history, in an effort to determine a motive for the attack on Oxford High School.

Three students were shot dead and eight wounded.

It comes after Mike Bouchard, the Oakland County sheriff, said the suspect shared pictures of a pistol that they suspected was used on Tuesday. It was allegedly bought by his father on Friday.

Michael G McCabe, the undersheriff, told CNN that a search warrant had been served on the suspect’s family home, and that items were retrieved. He also suggested the suspect, who has not been identified, could be charged as an adult, although that remains to be seen.

College football team responds to death of 16-year-old

Wednesday 1 December 2021 13:30 , Gino Spocchia

The college football team for Oxford High School has responded to the death of a 16-year-old, Tate Myer, who played for the side following Tuesday’s shooting.

Myer, the Oxford Wildcats said, “was a tremendous football player with the brightest of futures and was an even better young man off the field as he was on it.”

He is also the focus of a petition to rename the high school’s wildcat stadium in his honour. The campaign has already gained over 34,000 signatures.

Pastor with injured child leads memorial service

Wednesday 1 December 2021 13:10 , Gino Spocchia

There was standing room only at a church in Oxford Township on Tuesday night as locals gathered to mourn for the three students who were shot dead at a high school.

As WoodTV reported, the crowd filled the lobby of Lakepoint Community Church, where a service was held. A line of cars were meanwhile parked along the road.

Jesse Holt, a pastor at the church, said her child was among the victims who had been shot.

“You always hear it at someone else’s community and so when you hear it in yours, you have to — at least I’ve had to — set my emotion, my feeling aside for a moment and help those who are grieving and hurting.”

Images showed people gathering by candle light, and many hugging one another. Students, families of the victims, and members of the community were thought to be in attendance.

Suspect on ‘suicide watch’, say officials

Wednesday 1 December 2021 12:50 , Gino Spocchia

David Coulter, the Oakland County executive, has said the suspect arrested following Tuesday’s school shooting was on ‘suicide watch’.

Mr Coulter, as FOX2 reported on Tuesday night, said the suspect was being checked on every 15 minutes, amid apparent concerns for his safety.

He is currently being held at Oakland County Children’s Village, a detention facility for children.

Mike Bouchard, the Oakland County sheriff, said earlier on Tuesday night that the male student was “not talking” to investigators.

His parents, one of whom had allegedly bought the firearm suspected of being used in the attack, had hired an attorney and were not allowing the suspect to talk to police, CNN reported.

State Democrats react to Oxford school shooting

Wednesday 1 December 2021 12:30 , Gino Spocchia

Mallory McMorrow, a Democrat in the Michigan Senate, has said she is “lost for words” following the Oxford school shooting, and did not want “to hear ‘thoughts and prayers’” for the three dead, or eight wounded.

“I want everyone in any position of authority to agree that easy access to firearms that allow children to kill other children is not an acceptable world to live in and that we will do everything to stop it,” Ms McMorrow said.

State Republicans react to Oxford school shooting

Wednesday 1 December 2021 12:10 , Gino Spocchia

John Reilly, a Republican in the Michigan House of Representatives, has said he is “praying for a quick recovery for those who have been wounded, and comfort for families and friends grieving lost loved ones.”

“A tragedy like this shocks us all, and we need to support the people who endured this horrific trauma. Our community is unified in the face of this heinous act of violence, and we are especially grateful to our law enforcement officers and first responders for their efforts.”

FBI and Secret Service among agencies assisting Oakland County

Wednesday 1 December 2021 11:50 , Gino Spocchia

Three community organisations and 26 police agencies have been helping the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office response and investigation of the school shooting in Oxford, Michigan.

The force said in a Facebook post that agencies including the FBI, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, and the United States Secret Service had all been involved in the past 24 hours.

“We are forever grateful for the outstanding show of support from our partners across the region during and after this tragedy,” said the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. “Please keep these heroic men and women in your hearts.”

Parents and students had a ‘bad feeling’ ahead of shooting

Wednesday 1 December 2021 11:30 , Gino Spocchia

Threats of a shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan allegedly circulated online before a 15-year-old student suspect’s deadly rampage on Tuesday afternoon.

Three people were killed and eight others injured when a shooter opened fire on classmates and teaching staff at the school in Oxford Township just before 1pm local time.

Authorities identified the gunman as a male sophomore at the school who was arrested at the scene. Parents said they had a “bad feeling” following the rumours. The Independent’s Megan Sheets has the details.

Shooting threats made on Michigan school campus before deadly attack, student says

Shooter had a 9 mm Sig Sauer, bought by father

Wednesday 1 December 2021 11:15 , Gino Spocchia

The 15-year-old suspect arrested following the shooting was not only “not talking” to investigators on Tuesday night, but had been using a gun that was bought by his father on Friday.

Mike Bouchard, the Oakland County sheriff, told reporters that the suspect’s father bought the gun on Friday, for an unknown reason.

The semi-automatic firearm, a 9 mm Sig Sauer, is a concealed carry firearm.

Mr Bouchard said the suspect had been posting pictures of and practicing shooting with it. He was arrested in a hallway within minutes of Oakland County sheriff’s officers arriving at the scene of the shooting on Tuesday. He put his hands in the air as deputies approached, Mr Bouchard said.