Gunman had posted ‘countdown’ before US school rampage

THE 15-YEAR-OLD gunman who killed four fellow pupils in a school shooting in Michigan had reportedly posted a countdown on social media the day before the attack, adding: “Now I become death – destroyer of worlds.”

Authorities last night named the killer as Ethan Crumbley, whose social media activity has been analysed by the FBI as it seeks to establish a motive for the shooting at Oxford High School near Detroit on Tuesday, where six other pupils and a teacher were also injured.

Crumbley was yesterday charged with four counts of murder and one count of terrorism causing deaths. He reportedly used a 9mm semi-automatic handgun that his father had bought four days earlier. The killer posted a picture on social media of the gun and a target.

Police said it was believed he brought the weapon into school in a backpack and then emerged from a bathroom and opened fire. He was not believed to have targeted particular individuals.

He had seven bullets remaining when he surrendered to police.

Michael Bouchard, Sheriff, said: “That interrupted what could have led to several more victims. The way I see it is, there were seven more victims in that gun.”

Those who died were Tate Myre, 16, Hanna St Julian, 14, Madisyn Baldwin, 17, and Justin Shilling, 17.

Tate, a promising high school American football player, died in a police car on the way to hospital after trying to disarm the gunman.

Fellow pupils suggested the gunman had been “picked on” and bullied.

He was refusing to cooperate with police after the attack.

Sheriff Bouchard said: “He was shooting people at close range, oftentimes towards the head and chest. It’s just absolutely coldhearted murders.”

The Sheriff said at least 30 shots were fired.