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Oxford families renew call for independent investigation nearly 3 years after school shooting

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(WXYZ) — Families of the Oxford High School shooting victims and survivors came together on Monday to call for an independent investigation into the deadly Nov. 30, 2021, shooting.

Four students were killed during the shooting: Tate Myre, Justin Shilling, Hana St. Juliana and Madisyn Baldwin, and seven other people were injured.

Related Video: Watch the full press conference as families call for an investigation into the Oxford shooting

Full press conference: Oxford families call for investigation

The school shooter pleaded guilty in the case and was sentenced to life without parole. He was 15 at the time of the shooting. James and Jennifer Crumbly were both convicted on four counts of involuntary manslaughter related to the shooting

"We'll fight. We'll fight to our grave. I'm never going to give up this fight," Buck Myre, the father of Tate Myre, said at the press conference.

Related Video: Watch the interview with Buck Myre after the press conference

Full interview: Buck Myre talks about the need for an independent investigation into Oxford shooting

The families say they continue the fight in order to make schools safer.

“When my kids have kids, I want schools to be better. I want it to be safer for my grandkids,” said Buck Myre.

Steve St. Juliana, Hana's father, said: “What we’re here today trying to drive is looking at the big picture and how do we fix the broken pieces of the system itself. We know there’s a lot more there."

Oxford did hire Guidepost Solutions to conduct an investigation, however, the families said that many people refused to cooperate and left key questions unanswered because they didn't have subpoena power.

That investigation was released in October 2023 and was a 572-page report that detailed what district officials may have known about the shooter.

WATCH BELOW: Independent firm releases Oxford High School shooting investigation report; here's what they found

Independent firm releases Oxford High School shooting investigation report; here's what they found

While the report says the district's actions did help save lives and keep students safe with its training and safety protocols, there were certain areas where the district failed.

"... in certain critical areas, individuals at every level of the District, from the Board to the Superintendent and his cabinet to the OHS administration and staff, failed to provide a safe and secure environment. Although only the Shooter is guilty of murder and assault, and his parents will be tried for their alleged gross negligence with respect to their son, the District was responsible for keeping Madisyn, Tate, Justin, Hana and all of the other OHS survivors and students safe and secure at OHS on November 30, 2021, but failed to do so," part of the report said.

The report also said the "tragedy was avoidable" and that district officials often denied responsibility and shifted it elsewhere.

The firm says the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office provided everything they requested.

Because of that, the families are calling for the State of Michigan and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel to fund and mandate a full investigation that requires full cooperation from everyone involved.

The families said that they are supported by Village of Oxford, Oxford Township Board, Oakland County Board of Commissioners, and the offices of the Oakland County Executive, Oakland County Prosecutor and Oakland County Sheriff.

In a press conference later on Sunday, Nessel said her office has offered the Oakland County Sheriff's Office and Oakland County Prosecutor's Office several times to conduct a third-party investigation, and that their offers were "soundly rejected."

Nessel said that they've never withdrawn the offer and that neither the prosecutor's office or sheriff's office has asked the AG's office to help in the investigation. She said that she doesn't have any more subpoena power than the sheriff's office or prosecutor's office.

Watch Nessel speak about their offers in the video below

Michigan AG Dana Nessel says her office offered to investigate Oxford shooting

The new Oxford School Board has also asked the state to conduct a full investigation, and Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald told us in September that she supports parents and the request.

While the A.G. was not available for an interview, her office did email in September to say, “The Department of Attorney General has long believed that the people of Oxford deserve transparency into the tragic events of November 30, 2021, and what led to that point. The school board had previously declined our numerous offers to provide a full and complete investigation. Should they reach out, we are happy to discuss this matter further with them.”

WATCH BELOW: Parents support school board's call for state investigation into Oxford school shooting

Parents support school board's call for state investigation into Oxford school shooting

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