School shootings are a big issue that impact a lot of schools around the country. One of the most recent ones being the Michigan school shooting at Oxford High School, which took place on November 30, 2021. 

 

A 15-year-old student opened fire, leaving four innocent teenagers dead and seven others injured in the afternoon hours. Officials and students alike say Ethan Crumbley gave many signs and warnings threatening the school on social media, however, the school did little to intervene. 

 

Now, Ethan Crumbley faces 24 charges: 4 counts of 1st degree murder; terrorism causing death; 7 counts of assault; and 12 counts of possession of a firearm. 

 

To review, the shooting started in the hallway, and as soon as students and teachers heard the shots, they rushed to hide and cover themselves. There were more than one hundred 911 calls by the students around 12 pm. 

 

According to authorities, 4 students: Hana St. Juliana; Madisyn Baldwin; Tate Myre; and  Justin Shilling were killed and many more were injured. Tate Myre (16) died a hero; he sacrificed his life to save others by trying to disarm the active shooter, Ethan Crumbley. 

 

A student at Oxford High school, Dale Shmalenberg, said, “I was just kind of sitting there shaking, I didn’t really know how to respond.” 

 

What may be more alarming is that the authorities said Ethan Crumbley and his parents had a meeting three hours before the tragedy that allegedly discussed his behavior in the classroom that teachers reported as concerning; although this is what is currently believe, there’s still further investigation for what caused these meetings. It is also said that this was the second meeting held within two days. 

 

To add on, prosecutors found a detailed journal in his backpack detailing how he was going to shoot other students, and a recorded video in his cellphone about what he wanted to do. The parents pleaded not guilty, James and Jennifer Crumbley, to involuntary manslaughter charges on Saturday morning. 

 

School shootings affect everyone, causing the increase of kids not wanting to go to school because they feel like they are not safe due to the dangers. This impacts mental health, causing social anxiety which makes it harder for students to focus and perform in school. 

 

As a high school student, my biggest fear is to go to school one day and experience this devastating situation with my classmates, creating feelings of insecurity and worry and fear. Mostly, the thought that enters my head when I hear of these situations is whether or not I will make it out alive or live another day, which is probably what all of the students at Oxford High School now think of often.