After months of false starts and public demand for action, the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office is joining forces with Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel to launch a state-level investigation into the Oxford High School shooting that occurred on November 30, 2021. David Williams, chief assistant prosecutor in Oakland County, confirmed they are ready to provide all necessary documents to facilitate the probe. "Our priority is the families and their request for an investigation. We will do whatever it takes and provide the attorney general with whatever is necessary so that can happen," he stated, as reported by The Detroit News.
This shift comes after the Oxford Community Schools board repeatedly declined AG Nessel's investigative offers. Instead, the board chose an internal investigation by Guidepost Solutions. As CBS News stated, their report cited failings at all school district levels to ensure a safe student environment. Families of the victims have criticized the Guidepost investigation for lacking legal authority to compel staff testimony, which left "crucial questions unanswered."
According to Nessel, the district's previous investigation was hindered by school officials' lack of participation. The Attorney General's Office has emphasized the need for a recommendation or invitation from local authorities to pursue the case. "Our office is going to do whatever we need to do to make sure that that thorough investigation is done, and we stand with the parents," Prosecutor Karen McDonald stated, as per WWJ Newsradio.
Despite the postponement, McDonald's urgency reflects the gravity of a mass tragedy that shattered lives while Nessel's office is wrestling to secure resources for the investigation. "We are in discussions with the legislature and governor’s office to ensure the office has adequate resources for a comprehensive, timely review of the Oxford matter," Nessel's spokeswoman Kimberly Bush expressed, as per CBS News. The shooter, Ethan Crumbley, was sentenced to life without parole, and his parents were also found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. Still, the broader assessment of the school's responsibility and policy failures remains unaddressed.
