Oxford Security Guard Thought Victim Was Wearing Makeup, Thinking It Was A Drill: Lawyer

OXFORD, MI — A Detroit lawyer representing the families of Oxford shooting victims said Wednesday he wants to amend his lawsuit after watching surveillance video that showed a security guard failing to stop the shooter, Attorney Ven Johnson said during a news conference.

Johnson filed a motion to add Oxford High School security guard Kimberly Potts to the lawsuit after he said Potts opened a bathroom door with three students inside, including shooting victim Justin Shilling and Ethan Crumbley, who authorities said was the shooter, and closed the door and walked away. Her body camera was not activated, Johnson said.

Johnson said Potts told investigators that she didn't see or hear anything, but Johnson argued if "she had done her job, there would have been at least the death of Justin prevented." Johnson said he believes Crumbley opened fire moments later.

Furthermore, Johnson said Potts told investigators that she thought the shooting was an Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate (ALICE) drill. He said Potts told officials she walked right pass Tate Myre, who she thought was participating in the drill, and that he was wearing "really good makeup" to depict injury. Myre was killed in the shooting.

"It's difficult to know that he could still be here, if somebody did their job," Justin Schilling's father said tearfully. "There was literally someone five feet away from him that could have stopped him."

Johnson's lawsuit claims school officials and Crumbley's parents ignored disturbing warning signs leading up to the deadly shooting and failed to stop the deadly attack on Nov. 30. Four students — Hana St. Juliana, Tate Myre, Justin Shilling and Madisyn Baldwin — were killed in the shooting when authorities said sophomore student Ethan Crumbley opened fire.

Crumbley was charged with 24 counts, including four counts of premeditated murder and terrorism. He was charged as an adult and placed in the Oakland County Jail. He pleaded insanity and his trial is expected to start in January 2023.