COUNTY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I AM KAREN THE OAKLAND COUNTY
PROSECUTOR I APPRECIATE YOU
JOINING ME ON THIS SATURDAY AS
OUR COMMUNITY PROCESSES THE
TRAGEDY YESTERDAY.
I AM GOING TO CONFIRM THE NAME
OF THE SUSPECT THIS ONE TIME
ONLY DURING THIS PRESS
CONFERENCE ETHAN AGE 15.
WE WANT TO KEEP OUR FOCUS ON
THE VICTIMS OF THIS TRAGEDY AND
THOSE ARE THE NAMES YOU WILL
HEAR TODAY.
EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO THE
FIRST RESPONDERS WHO ARRIVED ON
THE SCENE THANK YOU TO THE
DEPUTIES FROM THE SHERIFF’S
DEPARMENT.
SWIFTLY AND BRAVELY REACTED TO
APPREHEND THE SUSPECT
PREVENTING EVEN MORE TRAGEDY
ALSO WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE
SHERIFF MIKE, HIS TEAM TO
GATHER ALL INFORMATION
AVAILABLE.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE
GOVERNOR, MICHIGAN ATTORNEY.
OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE FOR THEIR
SUPPORT.
WE HAVE WATCHED SCHOOL
SHOOTINGS UNFOLD IN COMMUNITIES
ACROSS THIS COUNTRY FOR FAR TOO
LONG SADLY THE SPOTLIGHT IS
SHINING TODAY ON OUR COMMUNITY
OXFORD AND OAKLAND COUNTY AS WE
FACE THIS TRAGEDY TOGETHER.
THIS HAS TOUCHED ALL OF US SO
DEEPLY AS A COMMUNITY AND ON A
PERSONAL LEVEL AS WE LOOK AT
OUR OWN FAMILIES AND IMAGINE
THE UNTHINKABLE.
I WANT TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST
CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES,
LOVED ONES OF THE VICTIMS.
MADISON BALDWIN, TATE MEYER,
JUSTIN.
I HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO TWO OF THOSE FATHERS.
SPEAK TO TWO OF THOSE FATHERS.
ALL AGREE THAT NO PARENTS NO
LOVED ONES, NO FRIEND SHOULD
EVER HAVE TO FACE THE LOSS AND
GRIEF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING
RIGHT NOW.
I ASK YOU TO JOIN ME IN PRAYING
FOR THOSE FIGHTING TO RECOVER
FROM THE INJURIES SUSTAINED AS
PART OF YESTERDAY’S ATTACK.
TODAY IS THE START OF THE LEGAL
PROCESS WHEN WE REVIEW ALL OF
THE FACTS PUT TOGETHER A FULL
TIMELINE OF EVENTS IT WILL TAKE
TIME BUT THE VICTIMS AND THEIR
FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY
DESERVE THOSE ANSWERS.
SOME OF FACTS WE ALREADY KNOW,
BASED ON THE INVESTIGATION SO
FAR I AM CHARGING THE YOUNG MAN
WHO TOOK THE GUN INTO THAT
SCHOOL AND SHOT AGE 14,
VOLLEYBALL PLAYER AND THE
BASKETBALL PLAYER AND HER
FATHER ASKED ME TO TELL YOU SHE
WAS ONE OF THE MOST HAPPIEST
KIDS.
MADISON BALDWIN AGE 17,
TALENTED ARTIST AND BIG SISTER.
TATE MEYER A JUNIOR FOOTBALL PLAYER, MR. MEYER ASKED ME IF I
PLAYER, MR. MEYER ASKED ME IF I
HAD CHILDREN AND I SAID THAT I
DID THAT I WOULD TREAT THIS
CASE LIKE THESE ARE MY OWN CHILDREN.
JUSTIN AGE 15, A GOLFER.
WE ARE CHARGING THIS INDIVIDUAL
WITH ONE COUNT OF TERRORISM
CAUSING DEATH FOUR COUNTS OF
FIRST DEGREE MURDER, SEVEN
COUNTS OF ASSAULT WITH INTENT
TO MURDER 12 COUNTS OF
POSSESSION OF A FIREARM IN
COMMISSION OF A FELONY.
THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AND
STAFF HAD TO ACT QUICKLY TO
SAVE THEIR OWN LIVES LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND ALL OF THE
FIRST RESPONDERS HAD TO PREVENT
MORE LIVES FROM BEING A LAST
AND TO GET HELP FOR THOSE SHOT. WE HAD TO ACT QUICKLY TO REVIEW
WE HAD TO ACT QUICKLY TO REVIEW
THE EVIDENCE THAT HAS BEEN
GATHERED AND ISSUED THESE
CHARGES.
GOING FORWARD FROM TODAY THE
PROCESS BECOMES MORE METHODICAL
AS THE SHERIFF SAID A LOT OF
EVIDENCE STILL TO BE COLLECTED
FAX STILL TO BE GATHERED THE
PROCESS WILL TAKE TIME INVESTIGATORS AND MY OFFICE
INVESTIGATORS AND MY OFFICE
WILL POUR THROUGH ALL OF THOSE
FACTS MAKE SURE WE HAVE LEFT NO
STONE UNTURNED TO GET TO THE
ANSWERS ABOUT HOW AND WHY THIS
HAPPENED.
TODAY IS ONLY BEGINNING
POSSIBLE THERE COULD BE
ADDITIONAL CHARGES ISSUED VERY
SOON ONE INVESTIGATION IS
REVIEWED AND COMPLETE.
IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE
INVESTIGATORS AND THE SHERIFF
UNDERSTAND I CANNOT AND THEY
CANNOT DISCLOSE DETAILS OR
EVIDENCE THAT COULD COMPROMISE OUR CASE I WILL NOT DO THAT TO
OUR CASE I WILL NOT DO THAT TO
THE FAMILIES OF THESE VICTIMS.
WE ARE BOUND NOT TO REVEAL
THOSE DETAILS.
I WANT TO EXPLAIN WHY WE ARE
CHARGING THE SUSPECT AS AN ADULT, FIRST THE SERIOUSNESS OF
ADULT, FIRST THE SERIOUSNESS OF
THE CRIME UNDER MICHIGAN LAW,
CRIMES THAT THE LEGISLATOR HAS
SAID ARE SO SERIOUS A PERSON
WHO COMMITS THEM CAN
AUTOMATICALLY BE CHARGED AS AN
ADULT.
SECOND, FACTS THAT SUGGEST THIS
WAS NOT JUST AN IMPULSIVE ACT. THOSE ARE NOT APPROPRIATE FOR
THOSE ARE NOT APPROPRIATE FOR
DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW.
BECAUSE IT COULD AFFECT THE
PROSECUTION OF THIS CASE.
CHARGING THIS PERSON AS AN ADULT NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE
ADULT NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE
JUSTICE AND PROTECT THE PUBLIC.
MY JOB IS TO PROTECT OUR
COMMUNITY FROM PEOPLE WHO
COMMIT THESE KINDS OF CRIMES. THAT IS WHAT I AM GOING TO DO.
THAT IS WHAT I AM GOING TO DO.
LET ME EXPLAIN THE NEXT STEPS,
THESE CHARGES WERE ISSUED LAW
ENFORCEMENT IS SWEARING TO
THESE CHARGES CURRENTLY.
THE SUSPECT WILL BE ARRAIGNED
LATER THIS AFTERNOON TO PREVENT
FURTHER TRAGEDIES LIKE THE ONE
WE WITNESSED YESTERDAY, AT A
LARGE WE HAVE GOT TO ADDRESS
RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERSHIP IN
THIS COUNTRY AND IN OAKLAND
COUNTY RESPONSIBLE OWNERSHIP
INCLUDING THE SECURITY OF A GUN
IS AN IMPERATIVE TO PROTECT OUR
COMMUNITY TODAY IN THE FUTURE
THOSE WHO DO NOT DO THAT SHOULD
BE AND WILL BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE.
KIDS DESERVE BETTER, PARENTS
DESERVE BETTER TEACHERS DESERVE
BETTER.
WE HAVE TO DO BETTER I AM
COMMITTED TO SEEKING JUSTICE
FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE OXFORD
HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING AND ALL
KIDS WHO FACE VIOLENCE IT IS MY HOPE THAT THIS WILL BE THE LAST
HOPE THAT THIS WILL BE THE LAST
TIME WE EXPERIENCE AN INCIDENT
LIKE THIS COMMITTED TO DOING MY
PART TO ENSURE WE HONOR THE
LIVES OF THOSE LOST THOSE TAKEN
BY PURSUING THIS CASE WITH THE
FULL WEIGHT OF THIS OFFICE.
NOW I WILL TAKE QUESTIONS.
>> WASN’T AN IMPULSIVE ACT?
SOME EXPLANATION.
SOMETHING YOU CAN GIVE US.
I THINK GIVEN EVERYTHING WITH
THE CASE SOME KIND OF AN
EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT LED UP
TO THAT.
>> A PROFESSIONAL DUTY NOT TO
DISCLOSE FACTS THAT WILL
JEOPARDIZE THE PROSECUTION OF
THE CASE OR THREATEN A FAIR
TRIAL SHOULD BE THE ABSOLUTE WORST THING FOR THE VICTIMS OF
WORST THING FOR THE VICTIMS OF
THIS SHOOTING.
SECOND, WE HAVE CHARGED FOUR
COUNTS OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER
WHICH REQUIRES PREMEDITATION.
I AM ABSOLUTELY SURE AFTER
REVIEWING THE EVIDENCE IT ISN’T
EVEN A CLOSE CALL IT WAS
PREMEDITATED. >> FACING ANY CHARGES?
>> FACING ANY CHARGES?
>> WE ARE CONSIDERING CHARGES
AGAINST BOTH PARENTS AND WE
WILL BE MAKING A DECISION
SWIFTLY. >> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE NAME SO WE ALL HAVE IT
RIGHT.
>> WE WILL BE PASSING OUT THE
INFORMATION I DON’T WANT TO
MENTION THE NAME ANYMORE I WANT
TO FOCUS TO BE ON THE VICTIMS. >> QUESTIONS WHAT YOU JUST
>> QUESTIONS WHAT YOU JUST
SAID, CANNOT DELVE DEEPLY,
CLARITY TO SOCIAL MEDIA
POSTINGS WHETHER THEY WERE
AUTHENTIC OR NOT.
THE PREMEDITATION.> THERE
ARE DIGITAL EVIDENCE, VIDEOTAPE
SOCIAL MEDIA, ALL EVIDENCE
POSSIBLE AND WE HAVE REVIEWED
IT, ABSOLUTELY WE ARE CONFIDENT
THAT WE CAN SHOW IT WAS
PREMEDITATION.
>> TARGETED OR APPEAR TO BE AT
THIS POINT?
>> I CANNOT COMMENT ON THAT.
>> PREMEDITATION A TIME OF WHEN
HE STARTED PLANNING THIS?
>> WELL BEFORE THE INCIDENT. >> WELL BEFORE THE INCIDENT.
>> WELL BEFORE THE INCIDENT.
>> YES.
>> TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU FOUND
INSIDE HIS OWN WHEN YOU WERE
SEARCHING IT.
>> A SEARCH WARRANT WAS
EXECUTED I CANNOT COMMENT ON
WHAT WAS DISCOVERED.
>> HOW SOMEBODY GETS CHARGED
WITH THAT.
>> YES.
NOT THE USUAL TYPICAL CHARGE
BUT WHEN WE SAT DOWN AND TALKED
ABOUT THE CHARGES THAT WERE
APPLICABLE IN THIS CASE THE
CHILDREN THAT I HAVE JUST
LISTED AND THOSE INJURED THEY ARE THE VICTIMS IN THE FIRST
ARE THE VICTIMS IN THE FIRST
DEGREE MURDER AND THE ASSAULT
WITH INTENT TO MURDER BUT WHAT
ABOUT ALL THESE OTHER CHILDREN
WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN WHO RAN
SCREAMING HIDING UNDER DESKS.
WHAT ABOUT ALL THE CHILDREN AT HOME RIGHT NOW WHO CANNOT EAT
HOME RIGHT NOW WHO CANNOT EAT
AND SLEEP.
THOSE ARE VICTIMS TOO AND SO
ARE THEIR FAMILIES AND SO IS
THE COMMUNITY THE CHARGE OF
TERRORISM REFLECTS THAT.
>> INTERACTIONS WITH THE
PARENTS.
>> DIFFICULT.
VERY DIFFICULT.
THIS IS UNSPEAKABLE WE SEND OUR
KIDS TO SCHOOL WE THINK THEY’RE
GOING TO BE SAFE. SO THE ONLY THING THAT I CAN DO
SO THE ONLY THING THAT I CAN DO
AS A PROSECUTOR IS ENSURE THAT
I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO
PROSECUTE THIS CASE AND PURSUE
JUSTICE FOR THESE VICTIMS.
BUT ALSO TO SPEAK OUT AND SAY
WE NEED BETTER GUN LAWS.
>> ANY PRIOR RECORD?
>> I CANNOT COMMENT ON THAT.
>> VERIFY FACING LIFE IN PRISON
BECAUSE BEING CHARGED AS AN
ADULT.
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> IN TERMS ANYTHING THAT WAS
MISSED BY THE SCHOOL INVESTIGATING, WHETHER OR NOT
INVESTIGATING, WHETHER OR NOT
ANY WARNINGS A LOT OF TALK.
>> MY FOCUS ISN’T ON WHAT THE
SCHOOL DID WRONG OR RIGHT MY
FOCUS IS ON THE VICTIMS IN THIS
CASE I THINK AS STATED
YESTERDAY, THAT THE RESPONSE
WAS EXECUTED PERFECTLY.
YET FOUR CHILDREN WERE KILLED
AND MULTIPLE INJURIES OCCURRED
WHICH SUGGESTS WE REALLY CANNOT
TRAIN OURSELVES OUT OF THIS
TRAGEDY WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE
FACT PEOPLE SHOULD BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE WHO OWN GUNS NOT
RESPONSIBLE.
>> JUST ONE MOMENT PLEASE.
>> STRONGER GUN LAWS HOPING
THIS WILL BE A RENEWAL OF THE
CONVERSATION.
IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN WHEN
IT COMES TO STRONGER GUN LAWS.
>> INCIDENT YESTERDAY WITH FOUR
CHILDREN MURDERED AND MULTIPLE
KIDS INJURED IS NOT ENOUGH TO
REVISIT OUR GUN LAWS I DON’T
KNOW WHAT IS.
I AM A PARENT THERE ARE PARENTS HERE PARENTS LISTENING WE NEED
HERE PARENTS LISTENING WE NEED
TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE SEND
OUR KIDS TO SCHOOL THEY ARE
SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE GUN
OWNERSHIP IS IMPERATIVE IT IS
CRITICAL.
>> PROSECUTOR DID THE BOY TAKE
THE GUN OR WAS HE GIVEN THE GUN
ILLEGALLY?
>> HE HAD POSSESSION OF THE GUN
I CANNOT STATE, I CANNOT
COMMENT ANY FURTHER.
>> AND NAME OF A DEFENSE
COUNSEL ON THE RECORD.
>> I DO NOT.
>> THE VICTIM WAS A 15 OR 17
-YEAR-OLD.
>> JUSTIN WAS 15 I BELIEVE LET
ME MAKE SURE I AM ACCURATE YES
HE WAS.
>> THE TIME FOR THE
ARRAIGNMENT.
>> IN THE NEXT COUPLE HOURS
YES.
>> CONCERN IN TERMS OF
PROSECUTING THIS INDIVIDUAL
WITH HIS MENTAL STABILITY AND
PREVIOUS TREATMENTS AND
CONDITIONS.
>> WE HAVE NO REASON TO BE
CONCERNED ABOUT THAT BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW.
WHAT WE KNOW.
>> TALK ABOUT RESPONSE FOR
GUNS, WHAT IN THIS CASE WAS
DONE WRONG?
THE SHERIFF SAID THE FATHER
WALKED IN PURCHASED THIS WEAPON WHAT WAS DONE WRONG IN THIS
WHAT WAS DONE WRONG IN THIS
CASE?
>> SHORTLY WE WILL BE
ANNOUNCING WHETHER OR NOT THERE
WILL BE FURTHER CHARGES.
THOSE QUESTIONS WILL BE
ANSWERED AT THAT TIME.
HOWEVER, WE KNOW THAT OWNING A
GUN MEANS SECURING IT PROPERLY
AND LOCKING IT AND KEEPING THE
AMMUNITION SEPARATE AND NOT
ALLOWING ACCESS TO OTHER
INDIVIDUALS.
PARTICULARLY MINORS WE KNOW
THAT.
WE HAVE TO HOLD INDIVIDUALS
ACCOUNTABLE WHO DON’T DO THAT. >> FROM EVERYTHING YOU HAVE
>> FROM EVERYTHING YOU HAVE
SEEN, THIS CASE.
>> ’SI CANNOT STATE RIGHT NOW I
CANNOT COMMENT.
>> CAN YOU CLARIFY AT ALL IN
REGARD TO THE RANDOMNESS OF IT
OR TARGETING OF IT, IS THAT
INFORMATION YOU CANNOT SHARE
WHETHER THIS WAS SPONTANEOUS OR
WHETHER THEY WERE SOUGHT OUT. >> HE IS CHARGED WITH FOUR
>> HE IS CHARGED WITH FOUR
COUNTS OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER.
IT WAS DONE AS YOU KNOW IN A
SCHOOL HALLWAY.
SO THAT IS ALL I CAN SAY.
>> HYPOTHETICAL COULD BE HE
CAME TO KILL SOMEBODY THAT DAY
BUT NOT KNOWING WHO.
WAS HE LOOKING TO KILL THEM?
DOES IT APPEAR OR YOU DO NOT
KNOW.
>> I CANNOT COMMENT ON IT I
WANT TO MAKE SURE WHY, NOT THAT
I DON’T WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW
I AM A PARENT, I WOULD WANT TO
KNOW TOO.
BUT WE AS PROSECUTORS ARE BOUND
TO NOT REVEAL ANY STATEMENTS
THAT COULD JEOPARDIZE THE
PROSECUTION OF THE CASE IN
PROVIDING A FAIR TRIAL IF THAT
HAPPENED, THAT WILL BE TRAGIC
FOR THE FAMILIES OF THESE
VICTIMS.
>> TAKING QUESTIONS HOW DO YOU
DECIDE WHAT CROSSES THAT LINE
OF WHAT WOULD AFFECT THE TRIAL?
>> I DON’T HAVE TO DECIDE IT
THE U.S. SUPREME COURT HAS
DECIDED THAT, SHOULD NOT MAKE A
STATEMENT ABOUT THE DEFENDANT
OR EVIDENCE THAT COULD
PREJUDICE A FAIR TRIAL.
>> THERE IS A MOTIVE EVIDENCE I
CANNOT COMMENT. >> YOU MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES
>> YOU MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES
THAT YOU ARE A PARENT OBVIOUSLY
EMOTIONAL FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
WHAT MESSAGE ARE YOU SENDING
WITH THESE SPECIFIC CHARGES?
>> THAT WE HAVE TO DO BETTER.
HOW MANY TIMES DOES THIS HAVE
TO HAPPEN?
HOW MANY TIMES?
YOU KNOW EVERYONE KNOWS WE HAVE
BECOME DESENSITIZED TO SCHOOL
SHOOTINGS AND I THINK ABOUT
THOSE PARENTS WHO SAID GOODBYE TO THEIR CHILDREN ON THE WAY TO
TO THEIR CHILDREN ON THE WAY TO
SCHOOL NOT EVER CONTEMPLATING
THEY WOULDN’T BE SAFE.
THEY WERE NOT ENGAGING IN ANY
RISKY BEHAVIOR THEY WERE
INNOCENT CHILDREN WHO WENT TO
SCHOOL.
SO WE’RE GOING TO HOLD THE
PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE ACCOUNTABLE.
E ARE GOING TO RECEIVE
JUSTICE FOR THESE VICTIMS
HOPEFULLY GOING TO START A
CONVERSATION AND MOVE THE
NEEDLE ON APPROPRIATE GUN
CONTROL.
>> HE MENTIONED A MOUNTAIN OF
DIGITAL EVIDENCE.
A NUMBER OF ACCOUNTS APPARENTLY
SEEM TO BE LINKED TO THE
SHOOTER TAKEN DOWN WHAT IS THE
COOPERATION WITH THE SOCIAL
MEDIA COMPANIES TO PRESERVE
THAT EVIDENCE AND PROVIDE IT TO
PROSECUTORS.
>> WE HAVE EVIDENCE LIKE THAT
IN ALMOST EVERY CASE NOW, OUR
INVESTIGATORS AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ARE WELL
EQUIPPED TO PRESERVE IT AND TO
INVESTIGATE IT. AND DISCOVER AT.
AND DISCOVER AT.
>> MORE ABOUT THIS