Three people dead and six injured as active shooter situation shuts down Michigan high school

Three people are dead and six people are injured after an active shooter situation shut down a Michigan high school. Police have said that the suspect a sophomore at the school, that he used a semi-automatic handgun and that he fired more than 15 shots, using multiple magazines.

Undersheriff Mike McCabe said that the first emergency call was received 12.51pm and that the suspect was in custody five minutes later. He added that there was more than a hundred 911 calls.

One of the injured victims is a teacher, Mr McCabe said during a press briefing. All other victims, including the three who died, are believed to be students.

Mr McCabe said the victims are at “local hospitals being treated for various injuries”.

He added that the 15-year-old shooter “did not give us any resistance when he was taken into custody” and that he invoked his right to an attorney, choosing not to speak to officers.

WXYZ; A suspect is in custody after a school shooting in Oxford, Michigan

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“Multiple shell casings,” were found in the school, Mr McCabe said.

“He had the weapon on him when [officers] took him into custody,” he added.

“There was an orderly evacuation, the school did everything right,” the Oakland County undersheriff said. “Everybody remained in place. They barricaded themselves.”

Almost 60 ambulances responded to the scene, according to a fire department official.

Oxford is located around 45 miles north of Detriot.

Parents were asked to avoid the campus and to instead pick students who have been left the premises at the parking lot of a nearby store.

A student named Jacob told WXYZ that his teacher was making calls trying to find out if the lockdown was a drill.

“Moments later he’s like, ‘okay guys, this isn’t a drill’. After hearing this, ... I’m still thinking ‘okay, this is probably a suspicious person, walking around campus, they’ll get them in a minute and it’ll be over,” he said.

He added that he started seeing in various group chats with his friends that people were being shot. “At this point, I have no idea what's going on,” he said. “We don't know if there’s a shooter outside our doorway.”

State Senator Rosemary Bayer, a Democrat, issued a statement saying that “the news of today’s school shooting at Oxford High School is simply horrifying. On top of an already difficult situation with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, our students now have to face this traumatic situation in a place that is supposed to be a safe space for learning and growth”.

“My heart goes out to all those involved,” she added. “I am working with local authorities to understand all the information and provide as much assistance as my office can. I encourage anyone with information about this situation to share it with the police, and I thank our local responders for their swift assistance and response during this difficult time.” 

Reference: The Independent: Gustaf Kilander