The 15-year-old suspect accused of killing four students in an Oxford, Michigan, school Tuesday was charged – as an adult – with four counts of first-degree murder and terrorism, among other charges the Oakland County prosecutor announced.
Prosecutors said video from the school surveillance cameras shows the suspect “methodically and deliberately” walking the hallways and aiming a gun at students and firing.
Our live coverage has ended for the day. Read the latest from Oxford below or here.
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Michigan high school shooting suspect arrives at Oakland County Jail
?From CNN’s Carolyn Sung
The suspect accused of killing four fellow students at a Michigan high school has arrived at Oakland County Jail and is being processed, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s office.
Authorities charged 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley as an adult, with terrorism causing death and four counts of first-degree murder. He was also charged with seven counts of assault with intent to murder and 12 counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen D. McDonald said.
During his arraignment Wednesday, Lt. Tim Willis said two separate videos were recovered from his cellphone via search warrant,?where he talked about shooting and killing students the next day at Oxford High School.
Willis said in addition to the cellphone, a journal was recovered from his backpack detailing his, “desire to shoot up the school?to include murdering students.”
Crumbley’s lawyer entered a plea of not guilty on his client’s behalf at Wednesday’s arraignment.
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National security expert explains terrorism charge in Michigan school shooting case
From CNN Leinz Vales
Juliette Kayyem, CNN's national security analyst
(CNN)
Authorities have charged the 15-year-old suspect accused of killing four students in Oxford, Michigan, with four counts of first-degree murder and terrorism, among other charges.
Juliette Kayyem, CNN’s national security analyst, said that the prosecutor’s decision to charge the suspect with one count of terrorism causing death focused on the actions of the shooter to intimidate a population.
Some context: The Federal Bureau of Investigations defines domestic terrorism as “violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups to further ideological goals stemming from domestic influences, such as those of a political, religious, social, racial, or environmental nature.”
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen D. McDonald said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon that the alleged actions by the suspect fulfill the requirements for a terrorism charge.
“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.”
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Michigan prosecutors: Surveillance video shows?suspect "methodically and deliberately" firing gun
From CNN’s Taylor Romine
Michigan prosecutors said video from the school surveillance cameras shows the shooting suspect “methodically and deliberately” walking the hallways and aiming a gun at students and firing.
Prosecutor Marc Keast said in court, “what is depicted on that video, honestly judge, I don’t have the words to describe how horrific that was.”
Keast described the video saying, just before 12:51 p.m. Tuesday, the suspect could be seen with a backpack, then a minute or two later he exited the bathroom without the backpack but with a gun in hand. At that point, he “methodically and deliberately” walked out of the hallways aiming the firearm at students and firing.
He started firing right outside the bathroom, Keast said, but after children started running away, he continued to go down the hallway at a “methodical pace” and shot inside classrooms and?at students who?hadn’t?had the?opportunity?to escape.
This?continued for another four or five minutes and he went to another bathroom, Keast said. When deputies arrived, he set down the gun and surrendered.
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Michigan high school shooting suspect remained in hallway and fired at least 30 shots, sheriff says
From CNN’s Tanika Gray, Taylor Romine, and Kristina Sgueglia
A preliminary investigation has found that the suspect in Tuesday’s shooting at Oxford High School remained in the school hallway for the duration of the shooting, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. He never went into any rooms, and never knocked on any doors, Bouchard added.
The shooting suspect was identified as a 15-year-old boy by Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald on Wednesday. He has been charged as an adult, with terrorism causing death and first-degree murder, among other charges, in connection with the fatal shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan.
Bouchard said based on their initial investigation, the first time the suspect is seen with a weapon is on surveillance video coming out of the bathroom at the school, but investigators are still working to piece together a timeline of events.
The sheriff also said he is not aware of any law enforcement agency that had the suspect on their radar prior to Tuesday’s shooting.
Bouchard said their investigation found that the suspect actually had 18 remaining rounds on him. He clarified remarks he made Tuesday, when he said the suspect had seven remaining rounds, explaining on Wednesday that additional rounds were found in a magazine.
Law enforcement authorities believe the suspect fired at least 30 shots, due to at least 30 shell casings recovered at the scene, Bouchard said.?
A search and forensic processing of the crime scene at Oxford High School began on Tuesday after the shooting and continued throughout the night until 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Bouchard added.
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No indication that shooter was being bullied at school, sheriff says
From CNN's Elise Hammond
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard
(WDIV)
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said there is no indication that the suspected shooter had been disciplined or complained about being bullied at school.
Bouchard said he personally asked the school district about the matter and “they had no?information in any of their?records that he had been bullied?and we have had no information?brought to our attention from?any other source that he had?been bullied.”
The sheriff also said the suspect was not on any law enforcement radar.
“We had no communication about?him or about anything that was?pending,” he said. “And I haven’t heard?from any law enforcement agency?that they did.”
Bouchard said he assumes that the shooter carried the gun into the school or put it in the waistband of his pants.
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Teen suspect in Michigan school shooting being arraigned
Ethan Crumbley appears on a video arraignment at 52nd District Court in front of Judge Nancy Carniak in Rochester Hills, Michigan, on December 1.
(Paul Sancya/AP)
The arraignment of Ethan Crumbley — charged as an adult with terrorism and first degree murder offenses in connection with the fatal Michigan school shooting – is happening now.
The suspect faces first-degree murder, terrorism and other charges.
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Sheriff provides update on condition of those injured in shooting?
From CNN's Maureen Chowdhury
Oakland County, Michigan, Sheriff Michael Bouchard provided updates on the condition of the victims from the Oxford High School shooting.
“The 17-year-old fourth?victim passed today at McLaren Hospital shortly after 10 a.m., as?our fourth decedent to die from?gunshot wounds in Tuesday’s?senseless shooting,” Bouchard told reporters during a news conference.
Bouchard also updated reporters on the condition of the seven people who were injured during the shooting.
“Six students, one teacher, four?remain hospitalized, three have?now been treated and released,” Bouchard said.
“A 14-year-old male remains in?serious condition with… gunshot wounds to the jaw and?hand.?A 17-year-old female with neck?wounds.?She is at the local area McLaren Hospital,” the sheriff said.
He continued, “a 14-year-old female has improved,?thankfully, I would say no small part to?great medical care, emergency?responders, fire service, and?prayers.”
That 14-year-old female victim “has been removed from critical?to stable with gunshot wounds to?the left chest and neck.?She’s at Hurley Medical in?Flint,” Bouchard added.
A 17-year-old female “still remains in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the chest,” Bouchard said. “So still looking for prayers and?support for her and her family.”
Three of the injured have now been discharged, including a 15-year-old male who had a wound to the left leg, a 17-year-old male with a gunshot wound to the hip and a 47-year-old female teacher, who suffered a gunshot wound to her left shoulder, the sheriff said.
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Oakland County sheriff: Parents of suspect?met with school officials morning of shooting
From CNN's Leinz Vales
Oakland County?Sheriff Michael Bouchard said Wednesday that the parents of the 15-year-old suspect in Tuesday’s school shooting that left four students dead at Oxford High School in Michigan met with school officials that morning.
“In fact, the parents were?brought in the morning of the?shooting and had a face-to-face?meeting with the school,” he said.
The sheriff continued, “The content of that meeting?obviously is part of the?investigation, but we did not?learn of that meeting, nor of?the content of that meeting?until after the shooting and?during this investigation.”
Bouchard added that the shooting suspect “was released back into the?school from the meeting.”
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Shooter fired more than 30 shots and had 18 rounds of ammunition left, sheriff says
From CNN's Elise Hammond
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard
(WDIV)
Authorities continue to uncover new details about what happened during a shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan that left at least four students dead
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said at a news conference on Wednesday that the shooter had 18 live rounds of ammunition left when he was taken into custody.
That is different from what was previously reported by the sheriff’s office. Bouchard said they initially thought there were only seven rounds left in the suspects pocket, but they later found additional rounds in an actual magazine.
Bouchard said authorities have recovered 30 shell castings while processing the scene, meaning the shooter fired more than 30 shots.
The sheriff also said law enforcement is joining with the prosecutor to ask that the shooter be transferred to the Oakland County Jail. He is currently being held at Oakland County Children’s Village, a juvenile detention facility.
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Prosecutor says shooting was premeditated "well before the incident"
From CNN's Kristina Sgueglia
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen D. McDonald
(CNN)
Authorities are considering charges against both parents of the suspect in the fatal Oxford Michigan high school shooting, with the prosecutor saying a decision would be made on that “swiftly.”
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen D. McDonald said the shooting was premeditated “well before the incident,” adding that a “mountain of digital evidence” adds to the confidence in the charges of first-degree murder.?
The charge of first-degree murder “requires premeditation and I am absolutely sure after reviewing the evidence that it isn’t even a close call, it was absolutely premeditated”?
She said the digital evidence includes video tapes, social media and more.
When asked about how long this was premeditated, she said “well before the incident” without specifying.?
She would not comment on whether the victims were targeted.?She also addressed the atypical decision to charge the suspect with a terrorism offense.?
“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.”
She also called for stronger gun laws, saying, “If the incident yesterday with four children being murdered and multiple children being injured is not enough to revisit our gun laws, I don’t know what is.”
The suspect faces life in prison as he has been charged as an adult, the prosecutor verified.
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The shooter was right outside his classroom. Here's what one student said happened next.
From CNN's Elise Hammond
When the shooter was right outside his classroom, Zander Cumbey said all he could do was wait and hope they would be okay.
Cumbey is a student at Oxford High School who survived the shooting on Tuesday afternoon. He told CNN the gunshots were about 20 feet away from the classroom he and his classmates were hiding in.
He said he was on the phone with 911, but was not able to talk to the operator.
“I just said ‘Oxford High School,?shooter’ because I couldn’t?talk.?He was right outside my?classroom,” Cumbey said. “I had to be quiet.?We were there, just waiting, hoping we would be okay.”
He said all of the students huddled into the corner of the room least visible from the door. Some students were crying, others were texting their families to say they loved them.
“I texted both my parents, told them I loved them.?I told them what was going on.?I texted my grandparents.?I texted my little brother who?was also in the school trying to?make sure to see if he was okay,” Cumbey said.
On top of processing what happened, Cumbey is also mourning the loss of one of his friends who was shot and killed.
Tate Myre was one of the students who died. Cumbey said he and Myre had been close friends for five or six years and played on the same football team.
“He was a great?person, a.great leader.?He’s just always wanted to make?sure everyone was okay and?involved in everything he could,” Cumbey said.
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Parents of high school shooting suspect could also face charges, prosecutor says
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald
(CNN)
Prosecutors are considering charges against the parents of the 15-year-old suspect in the school shooting that left four students dead in Oxford, Michigan, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald announced today.
The 15-year-old suspect has been charged with one count of terrorism causing death, four counts of first-degree murder and other charges. He will be charged as an adult.
“We are considering charges against both parents,” McDonald said after announcing the charges against the suspect.
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15-year-old suspect will be charged as an adult in deadly school shooting
The suspect in the Michigan high school shooting will be charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count terrorism causing death, among other charges.
The 15-year-old suspect is being charged as an adult, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald announced at a news conference.
The suspect also faces seven counts of assault with intent to murder and 12 counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Additional charges are possible, McDonald said.
Suspect in Michigan high school shooting identified
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald just named the suspect in the Oxford High School shooting yesterday.
We are working to confirm the spelling of the suspect’s name.
At least four students died in the shooting yesterday.
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Michigan governor calls for action on gun violence in a newly released video statement?
From CNN’s Gregory Lemos?
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called Tuesday’s shooting at Oxford High School “horrific” and urged action around gun violence in a video statement released Wednesday.?
“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 a statement posted on 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.”
Whitmer called for action around what she called “the gun violence public health crisis.”?
Whitmer said, as a parent, her heart was with the parents and families of Oxford and called on the greater community’s support.?
“We all hugged our kids a little tighter yesterday,” the governor said. “We all have to be there for them in every way that we can to help them be strong and lift their spirits through our actions, not only our thoughts and prayers.”
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Prosecutors will announce charges in the Michigan school shooting at 2 p.m. ET
From CNN's Carolyn Sung
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald will announce charges related to the Oxford High School shooting case at a 2 p.m. news conference, according to a news release.
At least four students died in a school shooting yesterday, and at least eight other people were injured.
The suspect, a 15-year-old student, was taken into custody shortly after the shooting, the sheriff’s office said.?Michael McCabe, the undersheriff and chief deputy for Oakland County, previously said the suspect could be charged as an adult, but that is up to the prosecutor’s office.
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4 students are dead after Tuesday's school shooting in Michigan. Here's what we know.
From CNN's Amir Vera, Taylor Romine and Kelly McCleary
Oxford, Michigan, district schools are closed today as the community grapples with tragedy. Four students are dead after a shooting at Oxford High School yesterday.
Here’s what we know so far:
What happened: Deputies were dispatched to the school at 12:52 p.m. Tuesday, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. As police were swarming the campus, students and staff began barricading doors and hiding in classrooms. Law enforcement officers quickly entered the building and had the suspect in custody within three minutes of their arrival, the sheriff said. Once the suspect encountered the officers, he put his hands up and they took a gun from him.
The suspect: The 15-year-old sophomore is being held at Oakland County Children’s Village, a juvenile detention facility. He was placed on suicide watch and was being checked on every 15 minutes, County Executive David Coulter said. The suspect’s parents hired an attorney and have not permitted him to talk with police, officials said. Authorities say they do not have a motive.
The weapon: The gun, a 9MM Sig Sauer SP2022 pistol, was loaded with seven rounds. Investigators believe there were no other weapons involved and there’s no indication the suspect was wearing body armor. Officials say the gun was bought by the suspect’s father on Friday, Bouchard said.
The victims: Investigators identified the victims who died as Tate Myre, 16, Hanna St. Julian, 14, Madisyn Baldwin, 17, Justin Shilling, 17. Several other teachers and students were shot, Bouchard said. Some are still in critical condition.
The investigation: Officials have a “tremendous amount of video footage” to review from cameras in the school, Bouchard said. Additionally, two 15-round magazines were found at the scene, he said, noting at least 12 rounds were fired. A search warrant was executed at the suspect’s home Tuesday, McCabe said, and investigators are looking into all social media activity.
What’s next: McCabe said the suspect could be charged as an adult, but that is up to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.
Prosecutor Karen D. McDonald said in a statement Tuesday her office has “begun the process of receiving information regarding the investigation” into the shooting.
Authorities are planning to give an update at a news conference later this afternoon.
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Michigan school shooting is the deadliest since 2018
From CNN's Kristina Sgueglia
The Oxford High School shooting that has claimed the lives of four students in Michigan was the deadliest US school shooting since eight students and two teachers were killed in May 2018 at Texas’ Santa Fe High School, according to a CNN tally.?
There have been 48 shootings this year on K-12 schools, 32 of them since Aug. 1.
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ATF agents are helping process evidence after Michigan school shooting
From CNN's Christina Carrega
Oxford High School is shown in Oxford, Michigan, on November 30.
(Paul Sancya/AP)
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents continue to work the investigation into the deadly Michigan school shooting, specifically working to identify and process ballistic evidence, according to a statement from the agency.
Tracy Morris, spokesperson for ATF Detroit Field Office, said Tuesday “a contingency of Special Agents, including an explosive detection canine team from the Detroit Field Division responded to an ‘active shooter’ call.”
“Upon arriving at the scene, they conducted clearing operations and investigative leads in conjunction with Oakland County Detectives,” the statement said.
Previously, ATF agents helped search the suspected shooter’s home.
“They conducted a search warrant of the shooters home, and as firearms experts they continue to work side-by-side with Oakland County Sheriff’s office to provide technical expertise by identifying and processing ballistic evidence,” the statement added.
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All district schools in Oxford are closed for the rest of the week
From CNN's Kristina?Sgueglia
All district schools in the Oxford,?Michigan,?school community will be closed for the remainder of the week in the wake of a school shooting that claimed the lives of four students and wounded several others and one teacher.
“As we grapple with the horrific tragedy in our school community all district schools will be closed for the remainder of the week,” Oxford Community Schools posted on its website.
“District families and staff, please see your email from OCS for details on available grief counseling,” the posting said.
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Sheriff says he wants Michigan school suspect charged as adult?
From CNN's Shimon Prokupecz and Carolyn Sung
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said the deadly shooting at a Michigan high school “was an evil act” that “appears to be random.”?
He did not disclose any revelations gleaned from the suspect’s writings that were discovered overnight, but as authorities continue to investigate the motive, he said, regardless, “there is nothing that would justify this.”
Bouchard said authorities do have “some pictures of a target and the weapon,” adding, “we don’t know as to what amount of practice, if any, he had with that weapon or proficiency.” He said the weapon was only purchased four days prior to the attack.
Asked if the suspect showed a level of skill with the weapon based on video review, the sheriff said that “at close range, you don’t have to be a marksman.”
Bouchard said he would like the suspect charged as an adult, but he hasn’t spoken with prosecutors to gauge whether they agree.
The sheriff said that the tragedy has touched many in the community.?He said one of his staff members was related to a deceased victim.
The suspected shooter was a student at the school for the last three to four years, he said.
He could not verify whether the person on video obtained by CNN attempting to enter the classroom was the suspected shooter or a member of his team, as they have not run voice recognition on the film.
Scores of law enforcement teams continue to pore over evidence in different divisions, including the suspect’s writings and social media.
The suspect is still not speaking to investigators.
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Death toll rises to 4 after Michigan school shooting
Flowers sit on a sign outside Oxford High School on December 1, a day after a deadly shooting at the school in Oxford, Michigan.
Authorities are planning to give an update at a news conference later this afternoon. Earlier Wednesday, they met with the prosecutor’s office for a preliminary meeting.