Oxford High School vandal dumped decapitated deer’s HEAD in yard and covered windows in red paint weeks before shooting
THE school where a student opened fire killing three of his classmates on Tuesday had a deer's head dumped on its grounds and was covered in red paint just days before the shooting.
School administrators had posted two letters to parents on the school’s website in November, saying they were responding to rumors of a threat against the school following a bizarre vandalism incident.
Both the sheriff and undersheriff emphasized that Tuesday’s shooting was unrelated to the deer head or any earlier investigation by their office.
“That was a different incident, different student,” Undersheriff Mike McCabe said.
But according to a November 4 letter written by Principal Steve Wolf, someone threw a deer head into a courtyard from the school’s roof.
They also painted several windows on the roof with red acrylic paint and used the same paint on concrete near the school building during the early morning hours.
Without specifically referencing that incident, a second post on November 12 assured “there has been no threat to our building nor our students.”
But one concerned parent, Robin Redding, said her son, Treshan Bryant, is a 12th grader at the school but stayed home Tuesday.
Redding said her son had heard threats that there could be a shooting.
“This couldn’t be just random,” she said.
THREATS 'FOR A LONG TIME'
Bryant said he texted several younger cousins in the morning and they said they didn’t want to go to school, and he got a bad feeling.
He asked his mom if he could do his assignments online.
Bryant said he had heard vague threats “for a long time now” about plans for a shooting.
Tate Myre, 16, Hana St. Juliana, 14, and 17-year-old Madisyn Baldwin were on Tuesday named as the three victims of the shooting.
She also loved to draw, read and write and was the eldest of three siblings.
It's not known whether the three students who died were targeted.
The suspected shooter, 15, is being held in a juvenile detention facility where he has been placed in a special cell, said Oakland County Executive David Coulter.
He has been placed on suicide watch and has someone checking on him every 15 minutes.
While the preliminary charges will be for homicide and attempted homicide, Bouchard said the prosecutor will decide whether or not the suspect is tried as an adult.
WEAPON USED
The shooter allegedly posted photos of a gun before the shooting. Cops suspect it's the same weapon that was used in the rampage.
Bouchard said: “It’s my understanding that this was a recent weapon purchased, that he had been shooting with it and had posted pictures of a target and the weapon.”
The shooter put his hands up when officers came down the hall and saw him. His weapon was seized and he was taken into custody, according to the cop.
Footage has since emerged of the suspected shooter posing as an officer while students cower in a classroom.
The sophomore appeared to tell fellow pupils that they didn't have to hide.
In the video, he said: "Sheriff's office. You can come out now."
GUN RAMPAGE
The suspect reportedly came out of a bathroom with a weapon but it’s unclear where he went first.
Police hope to get more footage from the school as the investigation continues.
“The person who’s got the most insight into motive is not talking," Bouchard said.
A potential motive, the timeline of events and the relationships of the victims to the shooter are hoped to be determined via "thousands of interviews" cops are expected to conduct.
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Bouchard said: "This touches us all personally and deeply, and will for a long time. This wound will never go away."
"We will leave no stone unturned in the investigation and finding out what lead up to it."
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