Oxford High School shooting: what we know about that day

On Nov. 30, a school shooting occurred at Oxford High School in Oxford, Michigan, where sophomore Ethan Crumbley, 15, claimed the lives of four fellow students, wounded another six, and one teacher. Hana St. Juliana, 14, Madisyn Baldwin, 17, and Tate Myre, 16, were among the three to never leave the school that afternoon, identified by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. Justin Shilling, 17, was pronounced dead on Wednesday, after residing in the ICU following the shooting (The Detroit News). 

This was a premeditated assault towards the school and its students. Crumbley was seen searching for ammunition online, paired with a disturbing drawing that had been seen on his desk. Concerned school administrators called in Crumbley’s parents for a meeting on Tuesday morning, the day of the shooting, and ordered the parents to find counseling for their son within 48 hours. Afterwards, Crumbley went back to class (The Washington Post).

Crumbley’s bag was not searched on Tuesday, though school officials had the grounds to do so. Officials say he had already been in possession of the handgun when he first arrived at school, meaning he had it with him during the meeting between his parents and staff. Assistant prosecutor Marc Keast stated Crumbley’s actions as completely planned and intentional.

“He methodically and deliberately walked down the hallway, aiming the firearm at students and firing,” said Keast. “He deliberately brought the handgun that day with the intent to murder as many students as he could.” 

During the shooting, more than a hundred calls had been made to 911 to report what was happening inside the school. One junior student told CNN that the shooter was so close he could only whisper “Oxford High School shooter,” in fear of being heard and found. The shooting lasted around five minutes and the police had arrested Crumbley two to three minutes after their arrival at 12:52 p.m.

There were two accounts of the parents making contact after the shooter, Crumbley, had been apprehended. The first was by the mother, Jennifer Crumbley, who had sent a text to the shooter that read, “Ethan don’t do it.” From this, officials infer that she knew what his motives were. The second was the father, James Crumbley, contacting 911 to report a missing gun from the home and that he suspected his son could be the shooter. 

After this horrible massacre, Crumbley was charged as an adult, and is being tried for four counts first-degree murder, terrorism, and other accusations. James and Jennifer Crumbley, shooter Ethan Crumbley’s parents, were arrested when found hiding in a basement in Detroit, MI after they refused to show up to their arraignment to set a court date. In relation to their son, they are each being charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter (NPR).