ALLEGAN COUNTY (WWJ) -- A Michigan teacher is suspended after making concerning comments to students about the shooting at Oxford High School last week.
Despite being briefed on how to address the shooting with students, Michigan State Police said the teacher went “off-script” and made some “off-the-wall” remarks.
The comments went so far as to scare some students, who told the principal what happened.
According to what a parent told WWMT, the Hopkins High School teacher told students that if he were the shooter he would have pulled a smoke detector to create a distraction so he could carry out his hit list and kill the people he would need to.
The full context of the comments are unclear.
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Superintendent Gary Wood confirmed the teacher was on administrative leave while the district investigates the situation, but he declined to get into specifics about what the teacher said.
The name of the teacher wasn’t released, but Wood said he is a “veteran” educator.
“We do have to give this teacher due process," Wood said. "I don’t want to make any snap judgments."
The suspension comes at a time when multiple schools around the state are closing due to "copycat" threats and high anxiety following the Oxford shooting.
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The MSP has launched an investigation into the incident, but believe there isn't any immediate threat.
Once their investigation is complete, it will be sent on to the Allegan County prosecutor, who will decide whether charges are warranted.