News US: Student kills 3 in Michigan school shooting

World Wednesday 01/December/2021 08:36 AM
By: DW
News US: Student kills 3 in Michigan school shooting
Police say the three students killed at Oxford High School were a 16-year-old boy and two girls, ages 14 and 17

A student shot dead three people at a high school in the US state of Michigan on Tuesday, authorities said.

Undersheriff Michael McCabe told reporters the victims were a 16-year-old boy, a 17-year-old girl and a 14-year-old girl.

Eight other people, including at least one teacher, were wounded. Two of the eight wounded were undergoing surgey as of 5pm local time (2200 GMT) on Tuesday, while the six other wounded were in stable condition.

The shooting occurred at Oxford High School in Oxford Township, a town located 48 kilometers north of Detroit and with around 22,000 inhabitants.
What was the motive for the shooting?

Oakland County Undersherrif Mike McCabe said at a news conference that investigators were still trying to determinate a motive for the shooting. He said that he was aware of allegations on social media that there had been threats of a shooting prior to the attack, but he cautioned against believing this before investigators have looked into it.

Police arrested the shooter without incident within minutes after arriving at the school in response to a flood of calls about the attack. The police also recovered the semi-automatic handgun and several clips the suspect used in the attack.

"He fired multiple shots," McCabes said. "Somewhere in the area of 15 to 20."

US President Joe Biden was informed of the shooting during a visit to Minnesota. "My heart goes out to the families enduring the unimaginable grief of losing a loved one," Biden said.

"I think this is every parent’s worst nightmare," Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said at the same press briefing. "This is a uniquely American problem that needs to be addressed".