A 15-year-old sophomore opened fire at his Michigan high school on Tuesday, killing three students and wounding eight other people, including a teacher, authorities said.
Oakland County Undersheriff Mike McCabe said at a news conference that he didn’t know what the assailant’s motives were for the attack at Oxford High School in Oxford Township, a community of about 22,000 people roughly 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Detroit.
Officers responded at around 12:55 p.m. to a flood of 911 calls about an active shooter at the school, McCabe said. Authorities arrested the suspect at the school and recovered a semi-automatic handgun and several clips.
“Deputies confronted him, he had the weapon on him, they took him into custody,” McCabe said, adding that suspect wasn’t hurt when he was taken into custody and he refused to say how he got the gun into the school.
Authorities didn’t immediately release the names of the suspect or victims.
Tim Throne, the superintendent of Oxford Community Schools, said he didn’t know yet know the victims’ names or whether their families had been contacted.
“I’m shocked. It’s devastating,” the shaken superintendent told reporters.
The school was placed on lockdown after the attack, with some children sheltering in locked classrooms while officers searched the premises. They were later taken to a nearby Meijer grocery store to be picked up by their parents.
Isabel Flores told WJBK-TV that she and other students heard gunshots and saw another student bleeding from the face.
They then ran from the area through the rear of the school, said Flores, a 15-year-old ninth grader.
McCabe said investigators would be looking through social media posts for any evidence of a possible motive.
Robin Redding said her son, Treshan Bryant, is a 12th grader at the school but stayed home on Tuesday. She said he had heard threats of a shooting at the school.
“This couldn’t be just random,” she said.
Redding didn’t provide specifics about what her son had heard, but she expressed concern with school safety in general.
“Kids just, like they’re just mad at each other at this school,” she said.
Bryant said he texted several younger cousins in the morning and they said they didn’t want to go to school, and he got a bad feeling. He asked his mom if he could do his assignments online.
Bryant said he had heard vague threats “for a long time now” about plans for a shooting at the school.
“You’re not supposed to play about that,” he said of the threats. “This is real life.”
President Joe Biden was updated on the shooting en route to an event in Minnesota by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, according to White House press secretary Jen Psaki.
“As we learn the full details, my heart goes out to the families enduring the unimaginable grief of losing a loved one,” Biden said at a late afternoon event, where he had traveled to tout aspects of his recently-signed bipartisan infrastructure law.
“[The suspect] turned himself in, and he claimed his right against self-incrimination and handed over his pistol,” Biden added. “That’s all we know about it. But you got to know that that whole community has to be just in a state of shock right now.”
Michigan’s governor, Gretchen Whitmer, was one of several other elected officials who expressed condolences to the victims.
“Gun violence is a public health crisis that claims lives every day. We have the tools to reduce gun violence in Michigan. This is a time for us to come together and help our children feel safe at school,” Whitmer said in a statement.
Rep. Haley Stevens, a Democrat representing the district where Oxford is located, offered her condolences at the “absolutely heartbreaking news,” adding: “I am praying for the Oxford High School community and will continue to monitor this tragic situation. Thank you to our Oakland County first responders and those who are working to reunite students with their families.”
Rep. Debbie Dingell, also a Michigan Democrat, wrote: “Praying for the students injured in today’s shooting at Oxford High.”
“As we wait for more information from law enforcement, one thing is clear: this violence must stop,” she added.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, another Democrat from Michigan, wrote: “This is absolutely devastating. My heart goes out to the Oxford community and everyone affected by this tragedy. This impacts all of us and as a mother of a 16-year-old, I can’t imagine the horror of this.”
Republican Rep. Lisa McClain said it was “an incredibly sad day for Oxford and our entire state,” adding: “Three students are now dead and I can’t imagine the pain their families are going through. I want to thank our first responders for their bravery during this tragedy and ask you all to keep Oxford in your prayers.”
Fellow House Republican Rep. Peter Maijer similarly wrote: “Awful news from southeast Michigan- please keep the victims and our first responders in your prayers today.”
The state’s senators, both Democrats, also responded to news of the shooting. Sen. Debbie Stabenow called it “absolutely devastating,” adding: “My heart goes out to the entire Oxford High School community. This news is a gut punch for parents and families in our state.”
Sen. Gary Peters said the news was “heartbreaking,” as schools “are a place where students should be safe.”
“I’m thinking of the families & friends who lost loved ones in Oxford today—and the entire community grappling with this harrowing news,” he added. “Grateful to law enforcement & authorities for their swift response.”
This is a developing story. Check back later for further updates.
This story has been updated with comments from authorities.
