Student fled bathroom to escape death

An Oxford high school student narrowly escaped potential death in Tuesday’s tragedy by running away from a boy’s toilet where a classmate was fatally shot, the Free Press has learned.

A source with knowledge of the mass shooting said that during the rampage that would leave four dead and six students and a teacher injured, the killer used a handgun to fatally shoot Justin Shilling, 17, in a washroom at school.

Following: Parents were repeatedly told that the school was safe before shooting

A second student who was also inside the bathroom when Shilling was shot in the head, at close range, was able to run from the bathroom and escape, the police said. source.

The disturbing new details emerged on Friday in what appears to be the country’s deadliest school shooting since 2018.

Shilling, hailed as a dedicated student and athlete, was pronounced dead At the McLaren Oakland Hospital in Pontiac on Wednesday, officials said. Justin’s family made the decision to donate his organs to Gift of Life, and his body was kept alive until the organs could be harvested on Friday, said David Jones, a spokesperson for the ‘hospital.

The source’s description of the circumstances in which Shilling was shot corresponds to an account circulated on social media after being sent as a private chat message by a high school student who said in the post that he was in the area. bathroom at that time. Shilling was shot, but was then able to flee from the killer.

The Free Press spoke to the student’s father on Thursday, who confirmed that his son sent the chat message, but said his son had no plans to share it and did not want to discuss shooting. The free press does not name the student.

The interior of the bathrooms is one of the few places inside the school where there are no video cameras. But there is an outside video of the second student running away from the bathroom, the source said.

Following: Visits and funeral services announced for 3 victims of the Oxford High School shooting

Following: Oxford gunshot deaths include honored student, athletes and artist

The account is also corroborated, in part, by a public Facebook post by an Oakland County Sheriff’s Assistant who said he was among the high school’s first responders. The social media post said the deputy was holding the hand of an injured student he later learned was Shilling in a school bathroom, until he could be taken to hospital by ambulance. The free press has confirmed the identity of the deputy but could not reach him and do not name him for the moment.

The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office declined to comment except to say that members of the Shilling family have told them they do not wish to be contacted by the media. Oakland County District Attorney Karen McDonald said through a spokesperson that she would not comment on the specific circumstances of the dead victims, out of respect for the family.

The suspect, Ethan Crumbley, 15, was arrested at the scene and has since been charged as an adult on 24 counts, including terrorism, first degree murder and more. Authorities seized a semi-automatic handgun used in the shooting.

Crumbley’s parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, were also charged with four counts of manslaughter on Friday. Police said Crumbley’s father bought the gun on Black Friday, four days before the shooting.

McDonald ‘guns with him or where his gun was, and did not inspect his backpack for the presence of the gun, which he had with him. “

The other students killed were Tate Myre, 16; Hana St. Juliana, 14, and Madisyn Baldwin, 17.

Shilling’s parents said in an open letter describing their grief over the loss of their son, obtained by Free Press, that Justin was a dedicated student and athlete. He played on the Oxford golf team and was a member of the bowling team.

One of Shilling’s three jobs was at Anita’s Kitchen’s Lake Orion location, a Middle Eastern restaurant.

“We have just learned of the passing of one of our young and bright Lake Orion employees, Justin Shilling, in connection with the tragic events which took place yesterday at Oxford High School,” the company wrote on its Facebook page. “Justin was an exemplary employee, a dedicated friend and colleague, co-captain of his bowling team, and simply a pleasure to be with us. Our thoughts are with his family and friends during these difficult times.

Free Press editors Elisha Anderson and John Wisely contributed to this report.

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or [email protected] Follow him on twitter @ paulegan4. Learn more about Michigan politics and sign up for our election newsletter.

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