OXFORD (WWJ) Oxford High School superintendent, Tim Throne, has released a statement explaining the school’s decision to send the suspected shooter back to class just hours before the tragedy took place.
As already stated by the prosecutor’s office, the teacher found a note on the suspect’s desk on the morning of the shooting that showed a handgun and people being shot and bleeding. Words on the page included: "The thoughts won't stop, help me" ... "Blood everywhere ... "My life is useless" ... "The world is dead."
“The student was immediately removed from the classroom and brought to the guidance counselor’s office where he claimed the drawing was part of a video game he was designing and that he planned to pursue video game design as a career,” the statement read.
The statement said the suspect was concerned he was missing homework assignments while in the meeting, asked for his science homework and worked on it while waiting for his parents to come to the school.
“At no point did counselors believe the student might harm others based on his behavior, responses, and demeanor, which appeared calm,” the statement said.
Counselors asked questions to determine if he was thinking of harming himself or others. His answers led counselors to “again-conclude he did not” intend to do so, according to the statement.
School officials stated they required the student to get counseling within 48 hours of the meeting or they would call Child Protective Services.
The parents never told the school he had access to a firearm, the school said.
“When the parents were asked to take their son home for the day, they flatly refused and left without their son, apparently to return to work,” the statement read. “Given the fact that the child had no prior disciplinary infractions, the decision was made he would be returned to the classroom rather than sent to an empty home.”
Throne said the decision was made at the guidance counselor’s level and was never run by the principal or assistant principal’s office.
“While we understand this decision has caused anger, confusion and prompted understandable questioning, the counselors made a judgment based on their professional training and clinical experience and did not have all the facts we now know,” the statement read.
Throne said he has called for a third-party investigation of the events leading up to the shooting.
He also asked for continued thoughts and prayers for the Oxford community and for Wildcat Nation (Oxford High School's team name).
“Our Wildcat community has been shaken to its core and our hearts are with the families impacted by this unthinkable tragedy. Please keep the victims’ families in your thoughts and prayers.”
Four students—Madisyn Baldwin (17), Tate Myre (16), Hana St. Juliana (14), and Justin Shilling (17)—died in the shooting. Six students and one teacher were injured.
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