DETROIT — A massive increase in threats against Metro Detroit schools in the wake of the Oxford High School shooting has led to an explosion in criminal charges being brought against the alleged perpetrators and prompted two local prosecutors to change how they handle threats cases.
Especially in Oakland County, where an Oxford High School student killed four of his classmates on Nov. 30, 2021, threats and related prosecution have skyrocketed. Prosecutor Karen McDonald's office charged only one threats case in 2021 before the Oxford shooting. Since then, her office has charged more than 40 threats cases.
"Nobody wants to err on the side of 'I'm sure it's not anything to worry about,'" McDonald said. "From what we are seeing, schools are not going to take a chance that it's not a serious threat."
