Four Students Killed in Oxford High School Shooting

On Wednesday, December 1 2021, the tragic shooting at Oxford High School killed four students and injured eight. According to investigators, 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley is responsible for the deaths of the students who attended Oxford High School in Michigan. 

Investigators found video recordings on the student's cellphone regarding shooting and killing  classmates just the day before the incident. Investigators also found a journal in Crumbley’s bookbag, explaining in detail how he was going to “shoot up the school.” Also, Crumbley had posted on his social media a picture of the weapon and target. 

According to Karen D. Mcdonald and the Oakley County prosecutor, “There is a mountain of digital evidence: videotape, social media.” They said, “We have reviewed it and absolutely we are confident that we can show it was premeditation.“

Not only was Ethan Crumbley charged for his crimes, but his parents are also involved and charged with related crimes. It was found on Crumbley’s phone that Mrs. Crumbley had texted him the morning of the shooting, “LOL, I'm not mad at you. You have to learn not to get caught.” Investigators later found out Crumbley’s father had gotten the weapon four days before as Ethan’s “Christmas gift” and left it available for Ethan Crumbley to use.  

The morning of the shooting, the student went into the bathroom to assemble the firearm and started shooting at students as he got out. It was shown on security footage that Ethan Crumbley was not shooting at anyone specific. This supported the Oakley County prosecutors theory that Crumbley did not have a main motive to the terrorism act. 

The youngest of the four students, who were killed, was Hana St. Juliana who was a freshman, 14. She played on the volleyball as well as the basketball team for Oxford High School. The other students include Tate Myre, 17, who was the linebacker of Oxford's football team, Madisyn Baldwin, 17, who was a talented artist, and Justin Shilling, 17, who was on the Oxford High School bowling team. 

Joyeux Times was a witness of the tragedy. “I’ve never heard a gunshot before. It's probably one of the scariest things I've ever heard in my life,” she said through tears. Joyeux stated that she helped a couple of students get to the exit door into the school parking lot. She remembered ducking behind a car and calling her relatives to say goodbye for what she thought was the last time. 

Ethan Crumbley was charged as an adult with 24 charges. This includes four first-degree murder charges and one count of terrorism, causing death. Regarding the suspect's parents, they were charged with four involuntary manslaughter.

To remember those who's lives were lost, students who attended Oxford High School held a candlelight gathering.