Oxford Schools Say Crumbley Didn't Bring Bird Head To School

OXFORD, MI — Oxford Schools Superintendent Tim Throne blasted several accusations from prosecutors regarding the events leading up to the deadly Oxford school shooting that left four students dead and seven other people wounded.

In a statement posted to the school's website, Throne attacked many recent statements from a lawsuit filed by attorney Geoffrey Fieger on behalf of a student injured in the shooting.

"The school district will respond in detail to the false allegations and reckless statements made by Mr. Fieger," Throne said in the statement. "Your many questions will be answered in short order as the criminal prosecution moves forward and the school district responds to the inaccurate filing by Mr. Fieger."

Fieger recently updated his complaint, accusing many school officials, teachers and administrators of ignoring warning signs and disturbing behavior of the suspected teen shooter, Ethan Crumbley.

Ethan Crumbley is accused of opening fire in Oxford High School and killing four students and wounding seven other people on Nov. 30.

One accusation against school officials in the updated complaint claims Ethan Crumbley brought bullets to school the day before the shooting and showed them.

In response, Throne said school officials never discovered any bullets or live ammunition.

"We have no record or report of live ammunition ever being reported at any school and we have strict protocols and procedures in place when it comes to weapons on school grounds," Throne said.

Fiegar's lawsuit also claims that school officials, including Throne and Oxford High School Principal Wolf knew that Crumbley brought a severed bird's head in a mason jar filled with yellow liquid to school and placed it in the boys bathroom.

However, Throne said that although school officials did find the bird's head in a jar on Nov. 11, there's no evidence suggesting Crumbley was the one who brought it and displayed it in the boy's bathroom.

Moreover, Throne said the incident was thoroughly investigated by school officials and law enforcement, and they could not determine who was responsible for placing the jar in the restroom.

A Nov. 17 anonymous tip claimed the person responsible for the bird incident was a student no longer at Oxford High School and not Crumbley, Throne said.

"They were unable to determine when or how the jar was delivered," Throne said. "No threat or other content accompanied the strange act."

A separate investigation determined a severed deer head that was found at the school on Nov. 4 was not related in any way to the deadly shooting on Nov. 30 at the high school. In addition, an investigation into social media posts from students following the deer head incident also found no connection to the deadly shooting on Nov. 4, Throne said.

Fieger's lawsuit also claims that school officials, including Throne and Wolf reviewed Crumbley's social media posts and knew of concerned parents, but accuses Throne of discouraging students and parents from discussing the social media posts. The complaint also alleges Wolf told students to stop reporting or sharing the incidents.

But in Throne's response he stated school officials were unaware of Crumbley's social media presence or related posts until after the deadly shooting at the high school on Nov. 30. He also said that all OK2SAY tips from Nov. 1 to Nov. 30 were forwarded to law enforcement, and that each tip was fully investigated by law enforcement.

Patch reached out Fieger's law firm through email and did not immediately receive a response. We will update this story if the law firm responds.

One issue Throne did not discuss was why school officials allowed Crumbley to return to class after prosecutors said they reviewed several violet drawings, in which one included a picture of a gun on his math homework, along with the words: "The thoughts won't stop. Help me."

Fieger's lawsuit also accuses two unnamed school counselors for failing to report violent pictures and notes Crumbley had drawn that threatened violence against fellow students.

Crumbley returned to class that day and later opened fire in the high school, killing four students and wounding seven other people, authorities said. He recently pleaded not guilty and will go straight to trial.

With students expected to return to the high school next week, Throne said school officials will will continue to investigate threats.

"We have always taken threats very seriously and will continue to listen to students and parents who report threats to the district," he wrote.