The Michigan teenager accused of killing three students and wounding eight others at his high school “came out with the intent to kill,” the local sheriff said on Wednesday.
“The evidence I’ve seen there shows he was very clearly trying to kill people,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said during an interview on CNN’s “New Day.”
“It’s clear that he came out with the intent to kill people,” Bouchard said. “He was shooting people at close range, oftentimes towards the head or chest.”
“It’s chilling,” he added. “It’s just absolutely cold-hearted murders.”
Bouchard said investigators have recovered at least 30 shell casings at Oxford High School, and continue to pore through videos of the horrifying incident — including footage of the shooting itself, he said.
He said videos and eyewitness accounts indicate the 15-year-old accused shooter, who has not been identified, tried to force his way into several classrooms where students barricaded themselves when the shooting started.
The mugshot of Ethan Crumbley, who is accused of killing four people and injuring seven others in a school shooting at Oxford High School in Oxford, Michigan. Oakland County Sheriff's Office“We know he tried to breach classroom doors,” Bouchard said. “He actually fired through a number of the doors that I looked at last night, the barricaded doors.
Oxford High students holding candles become emotional as they are asked to stand during a vigil after a shooting at Oxford High School on November 30, 2021. JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images
Sheriff Michael Bouchard said investigators have recovered at least 30 shell casings at Oxford High School, and continue to pore through videos of the incident. CNN“We know he couldn’t get into some of those classrooms, and I think that saved lives,” he said. “The only silver lining is that our training and their training saved lives.”
Bouchard said investigators also recovered “writings that contain some of his thoughts” after executing a search warrant at his home Tuesday night — but would not say what they were.
Police and FBI agents were seen taking away what appeared to be several guns from the shooter’s home. FOX 2 DETROIT“They’re beginning to go through those,” the sheriff said. “Those were only picked up in the middle of the night last night.”
The three teens killed in the shooting have been identified as Madisyn Baldwin, 17, Tate Myre, 16, and Hana St. Juliana, 14. No motive has been determined.
Eight others were wounded, including a teacher at the school, with two in critical condition, and one of them in “extremely critical” condition.
People hug during a vigil after a shooting at Oxford High School at Lake Pointe Community Church on November 30, 2021. JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty ImagesInvestigators said the gunman still had seven rounds in the magazine when he was taken into custody — and said his father bought him the weapon just four days earlier.
The young suspect has refused to speak to police and has retained a lawyer.
“I want to hold this person accountable and the community needs to see that happen,” Bouchard said. “I mean, this is a very calm, sweet, peaceful, quiet community and this has shaken them to the core.”
