On Tuesday, a 15-year-old student opened fire on his classmates, killing 4 and wounding 7 others at Oxford High School (MI). The previous Friday, the shooter’s father bought a gun. On Monday, the shooter had drawn disturbing pictures during class. On the morning of the shooting, there was a meeting at school between the school counselor, the parents and the would-be shooter. This kid told some elaborate lies about wanting to create video games and was allowed to go back to class. What no one knew is that he had a gun in his back pack and he was prepared to use it on his classmates. Within hours, the tragic incident took place.
Joe’s Perspective: There are many other reports coming out of this tragedy. Many will analyze gun ownership, school protocol, parental responsibility… and a whole host of other issues.
To me, that is just noise. The only story I am focused on is the senseless loss of four innocent lives and the ripple effect that this will have on the family and friends of these victims. While this day will not define these students, they will be profoundly changed forever. There will be scars and pain, tears and loss. Eventually, there will be recovery. I shake my head when I think that one disturbed child caused all of this pain. My heart is sad to know this happened in my home state of Michigan.
So, let us take a few moments to remember the 4 lives that will never see graduation, college, spouses, children, careers or old age.
Tate Myre, 16, was an honors students who had played varsity football since he was a freshman. Early reports indicate that he was trying to disarm the shooter when he was shot. Teammate Austin Witt said, “Honestly, Tate was the heart and soul of our team and probably our community. He’s a true hero.” Over 150,000 people have signed a petition to rename the Oxford Football Stadium after Tate.
Hana St. Juliana, 14, was a freshman. She recently completed her volleyball season and was set to make her debut on the freshman basketball team on the day she died. Oxford volleyball coach, Deena Maher, said Hana’s “smile brightened the entire gym.” A tweet from the basketball program said, “We will never forget your kind heart, silly personality, and passion for the game. This season we play for you, Hana.”
Justin Shilling, 17, was a member of the school’s baccalaureate program and served as the captain of his bowling team. He worked three jobs in addition to his school responsibilities. His had previously designated himself as a organ donor and his family followed through on his wishes. A family spokesperson said, “He was a Grandson, a brother, a cousin, a classmate, and without hesitation, a friend. The loss of Justin leaves such a gaping hole in our family that we cannot conceive of life without him.”
Madisyn Baldwin, 17, was a talented artist who had received multiple full scholarship offers to attend college next fall. Her grandmother, Jenneifer Graves described Madison as a “beautiful, smart, sweet loving girl, ” and added, “This unbelievable tragedy could never be planned for or expected by any of us.”
Your Turn: What are your thoughts and emotions about this terrible tragedy and loss of human life?
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I believe it was a terrible thing that happened that nobody should ever have to go through. It is a very heart breaking thing that will leave every child in fear for a while but we will get through this and be better because of it
This is so sad and hits so close to home
This is so sad and hits so close to home I personally would not know what do do if it was my school.
This really is a tragic event, it makes me stop and think. My thoughts and prayers are going out to those families that have been affected.
I am praying for all these life’s. Very sad and all the effect on others it puts. Rest In Peace Tate, Hana, Justin, and Madisyn:)
Major tragedy and huge stepping stone to show that we are never 100% safe
i believe that the shooting was a terrible thing and that there was negative side affects on the school and others
It is really sad for our community but I think we are strong enough to get through it I can’t imagine what all the kids are feeling after loosening friends family neighbor’s and just anything.
I believe that it is a terrible thing that happened and it never is ok to act the way that kid did. I am really proud for Tate he wanted to save his classmates lives and risked his own live to save hundreds of more people.
My thoughts and emotions on this event Is that this was such a tragic event no person should ever have to go through, it hits close to home knowing that these four students parents won’t get to see, hug and tell them they love them one last time. It shows never take anything for granite for it may be your last. This event I believe could have been prevented and children should never have to worry about events like this but this is real life today, however I believe that this event can teach us many things. Each innocent student that was killed all impacted the situation in different ways, but Tate’s bravery is what I believe saved others life’s.
Truly a sad time in Oakland County. Communities need to rally around the families of the victims. Oxford strong!!!
Absolutely devastating. This makes us realize we need to say i love you more and cherish every single day, because every day is a gift. These lives are so beautiful and we’re taken too soon.
This is such a traumatic situation and it’s so sad to think innocent lives were taken for no good reason. The people we lost seemed to be beautiful inside and out. The fact that this was so close to home is scary because it really opened my eyes to shootings aren’t something that only happen across the country, it’s everywhere and it’s a serious issue.
I think it is awful and terrible. i don’t know how i feel this is shocking and scary. this will definitely scar many people
I think it was a terrible thing and definitely could’ve happened to anyone. no one should’ve went through that. and my heart goes out to all of the Oxford students and families.
This is a horrible reality of our world today, and one we all have to live with. There are steps we can take to try and prevent this, however it is not fully preventable. I just hope the Oxford community can stay strong and support the families of the victims.
It’s extremely upsetting to know that these kids will never have a life because of one kid who thought he could take those kids lives. Although they are not here the will remain in our heart forever
This is just so sad. This school is so close to us and I know some people who go there. I can’t imagine what they are living right now and how they are feeling
It’s sad especially because someone that lost their life was a part of the bowling community
I live in Brandon Michigan and that is only 20 minutes away from we’re I live. I was in school at the time that the event occurred. Overall as a person who takes this to heart I feel very guilty because the fact that people died my age hurts and I couldn’t do anything about it
It was a really sad thing that happened and sad that we lost someone of the wrestling community.
My thoughts and emotions on this event Is that this was such a tragic event no person should ever have to go through, it hits close to home knowing that these four students parents won’t get to see, hug and tell them they love them one last time. It shows never take anything for granite for it may be your last. This event I believe could have been prevented and children should never have to worry about events like this but this is real life today, however I believe that this event can teach us many things. Each innocent student that was killed all impacted the situation in different ways, but Tate’s bravery is what I believe saved others life’s.
I think that the tragedy is sad and the families would be very upset. If I was able to I would try to help the people’s families with their emotions and their sadness. Their children died because of some guy who was an idiot by bringing a gun to school just to shoot people. I think the school should have dealt with it before it actually happened like checking his backpack or something. This situation is upsetting and sad.
Someone who could do such a thing has so much evil inside of him. Couldn’t imagine this happening to my little brothers schools.
Someone who could do such a thing has so much evil inside of him. Couldn’t imagine this happening to my little brothers schools.
This tragedy was awful and genuinely shouldn’t of even happened, the four lives that were lost were four people who should still be living out their high school careers.
My thoughts on this is that people are getting bolide for no reason at all and my emotion on this that it is sad because what they go through is just sad and no one helps them through it so they do things that they will look back at and relies something and the people will be sad
This is truly sad and no words can express how sorry i am for the families that are traumatized from this situation. It is very unfortunate and a scary situation to be in. I hope all people who went through those terrifying moments are grieving fine and gets in a better metal state if affected which i couldn’t imagine it didn’t.
I think this is a really good article because it shows awareness on school shootings and really memorializes the kids that passed away.
This tragedy was horrible and it affected my family personally and all of the students and teachers including my cousins have a lot of courage to go back to that school where a horrible boy took 4 innocent life
It was a really sad thing that happened and sad that we lost someone of the wrestling community.
It was a really sad thing that happened and sad that we lost someone of the wrestling community and just the four people in general.
I believe that the shooting was a terrible thing and that there was negative side affects on the school and others. This traumatized many students across the state and changed many things.
The shooting is very said but these kids had the courage to get up and give 10x the effort to make this situation.
the kids have the courage to try to help others and save others.
Tate was a young man who risked his life for the other students around him, this shows loyalty because he was loyal to his classmates and his school for helping him when he needed it and now he is returning the favor.
the students showed leadership and saved others.