Dozens of schools closed after Michigan shooting amid threats
DETROIT – Multiple schools across the metro area were closed Thursday because of threats of violence just two days after a 15-year-old shooter at Oxford High School killed four students and wounded seven other people.
Some schools said they were closing out of an abundance of caution. On Thursday afternoon, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said he was aware of at least 60 schools closed because of threats, with most expected to be reopened by Monday.
He said all threats will be thoroughly investigated, though the sheriff ’s office anticipated to be inundated with false threats following the tragedy.
“We’d check out 1,000 nothings to make sure we don’t miss the one real,” he said.
At least 14 school districts planned to close for at least one day. The superintendent of Bloomfield Hills Schools, about 20 miles south of Oxford Township, wrote in a memo Wednesday night that the district and others nearby “have received numerous reports of threats of violence circulating on social media.”
The closures come a day after Ethan Crumbley appeared in court on firstdegree murder and terrorism charges after police say he opened fire at Oxford High with the “intent to kill.” Crumbley, a sophomore student, pleaded not guilty and was denied bond Wednesday. He faces a possible life sentence if convicted.
Assistant Prosecutor Marc Keast said surveillance video of the shooting showed Crumbley “methodically and deliberately” walking down a hallway and firing at students.
“What’s depicted on that video, honestly, judge, I don’t have the words to describe how horrific that was,” Keast said in court.
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald indicated more charges could be coming soon for others, specifically saying they were reviewing charges against the suspect’s parents.
“We know that owning a gun means securing it properly and locking it and keeping the ammunition separate and not allowing access to other individuals, particularly minors.
“We have to hold individuals accountable who don’t do that.”
McDonald said Thursday the parents’ actions went “far beyond negligence.”
“The parents were the only individuals in the position to know the access to weapons,” McDonald told WJR-AM. The gun “seems to have been just freely available to that individual.”
Bouchard said the suspect’s father had purchased the 9mm Sig Sauer SP 2022 gun four days before the shooting.
Authorities identified the victims as Tate Myre, 16; Madisyn Baldwin, 17; and Hana St. Juliana, 14; and Justin Shilling, 17.
The suspect was charged with one count of terrorism causing death, 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.