OXFORD TWP. (WWJ) - The families of students gunned down, and others terrorized at an Oakland County high school are demanding accountability for all involved.
The parents of both the victims and survivors of the Oxford High School mass shooting spoke out on Thursday, at a news conference where chilling new details were revealed about the tragic events of Nov. 30, 2021, in Oxford Township.
According to witnesses, Tate Myre was killed when he rushed to stop the alleged shooter, Ethan Crumbley, 15, as he open fired on students and staff. Crumbley is accused of killing three other students and injuring many more.
Clearly emotional as he spoke, Tate's father, William Myre, described how he and his wife raised Tate and his brothers to be accountable for their actions. Myre said it would "dishonor" his son's memory if they did not hold the school to the same standard.
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"The ball was dropped and there needs to be accountability here," Myre said. "The other thing that we hope comes out of this is change -- a change in legislation for government immunity. They have passed legislation that takes away our rights, Tate's rights, all the kids' rights at any public school."
Keegan's father, Chad Gregory, also called for legislation change and said his family will continue to fight for accountability during the same press conference. He spoke at length about how his son, his family and the Oxford community "are changed forever."
Gregory said his son had become "cold" after his chilling encounter with Crumbley in a school bathroom.
"The shooter took his fourth victim in that bathroom and called our son, told him to get against the wall next to the body," Gregory said, while holding back tears.
"The minute the shooter took his gun off of Keegan and pointed at the wall where he was going to kill him, he ran. Down the empty hall ways, past Tate's body."
Gregory choked up as he said he was grateful that his son was alive, but guilty that other families never saw their children come home.
Both Myre and Gregory believe the shooting could have been prevented had the school made the decision to act when Crumbley began to have behavioral issues.
These comments come as the Myer family, along with three Oxford High School students, have filed a new lawsuit against the Crumbly family and several school counselors and staff members.
Families of survivors Keegan Gregory and Sophia and Grace Kempen, joined the Myre family in the lawsuit which also names other students who were affected by the shooting.
Crumbley has been charged as an adult with terrorism, four counts of murder and a number of other charges.
His public defender said she plans to argue that Crumbley was insane at the time of the shooting -- the next steps would involve a psychiatric evaluation ordered by the judge.
Crumbley is currently being held in the Oakland County jail. His next hearing is scheduled for Feb. 22.
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