(WWJ) -- Fighting back tears, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called Tuesday afternoon's deadly shooting at Oxford High School "every parent's worst nightmare."
“It is an unimaginable tragedy and just wanted to be here because I think this is an important moment for us to support one another, support this community, and I want to thank our first responders," Whitmer said Tuesday afternoon after rushing to Oxford.
Oakland County Sheriff's deputies arrested the shooter, a 15-year-old sophomore at the school. He "offered no resistance" during the arrest and did not fire on the deputies who took him into custody.
A 14-year-old girl, a 16-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl were killed in the shooting, while seven other students and a teacher were injured. Two victims underwent surgery Tuesday afternoon, while the six others were listed in stable condition.
"My heart breaks for the students, teachers, staff, and families of Oxford High School,” Whitmer said in a statement earlier Tuesday. “The death of multiple students and the shooting of many others, including a teacher, is horrific.”
Flags across the state of Michigan will be lowered to half-staff to honor and remember the victims of the shooting. Michigan residents, businesses, schools, local governments and other organizations are also encouraged to display the flag at half-staff.
To lower flags to half-staff, flags "should be hoisted first to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position," state officials said. "The process is reversed before the flag is lowered for the day."
Flag should remain lowered until further notice.
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“As Michiganders, we have a responsibility to do everything we can to protect each other from gun violence,” Whitmer said. “No one should be afraid to go to school, work, a house of worship, or even their own home. 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.
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“My heart is with the parents who had their children taken from them today and with the entire community in Oxford," Whitmer said.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, meanwhile, says her department has reached out to local law enforcement "to offer assistance as this investigation unfolds."
"My heart goes out to the parents who have lost their children and to the students, teachers, staff, and families reeling from the tragedy of a school shooting within their community," Nessel said in a statement.
“We must act to properly address gun violence in our schools and the ongoing threat of another unconscionable tragedy if we continue to only offer thoughts and prayers. Our kids deserve better," Nessel said.
Authorities said they received about 100 911 calls when the shooting took place, shortly before 1 p.m.
Police have not given any word on a possible motive in the shooting.
President Joe Biden also commented on the shooting, saying "my heart goes out to the families enduring the unimaginable grief of losing a loved one."
"You've got to know that whole community has to be just in a state of shock right now," Biden said.
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