Saturday marked a somber anniversary in Michigan, as the community and the state officials paused to remember the lives lost three years prior in the Oxford High School shooting. As reported by ClickOnDetroit, four students tragically lost their lives that day, and efforts to heal and to honor their memories are ongoing. Governor Gretchen Whitmer stated, "Today, Michiganders unite to honor the four beautiful young souls we lost three years ago in the heartbreaking tragedy at Oxford High School."

Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist expressed his sympathies and highlighted the need for schools to be safe spaces. "School should be a place of learning and opportunity—not fear," Gilchrist said, according to a statement obtained by ClickOnDetroit. The parents of the victims were reported to have demanded a state-led independent investigation earlier in the month, aiming to collect data to help prevent future tragedies, as noted by CBS News Detroit.

Reflecting on the day of the shooting, the community has looked for ways to come together and support each other. Jamie Ayers, director of victim services for Common Ground, told WXYZ that they initiated "Light up Oxford with Love," encouraging people to light a candle or luminary. "So really this gives an opportunity for people to come together wherever they’re at in their healing journey and be together with the community and a lot of people want to be with their community as they are remembering this day," Ayers explained.