U.S. 'Desensitized To School Shootings': Teen Charged In 4 Deaths

ACROSS AMERICA — Good morning! It’s Thursday, Dec. 2. Ready to wrap up your holiday shopping? If not, and you’re still struggling to come up with the perfect gift for that special someone in your life, check out these gift recommendations that could be great for anyone on your list.

Meanwhile, here’s a look at the stories we’re following today:

• The 15-year-old accused of killing four and injuring multiple others at Oxford High School in Michigan will be charged as an adult.
• The omicron variant is officially in the United States.
• Stacey Abrams is taking another shot at running for Georgia governor.
• Is Brian Laundrie’s parents’ home for sale? Their attorney weighs in.

Authorities in a Michigan County have charged a 15-year-old student with terrorism and first-degree murder in connection with a mass shooting at Oxford High School on Tuesday. The shooting left four students dead and seven others wounded.

The suspect in Tuesday's deadly attack was identified as 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley, according to Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald. Crumbley is accused of firing about 30 shots from a semiautomatic handgun. The boy’s parents could also face charges.

Crumbley allegedly recorded video the night before the violence in which he discussed shooting and killing students, Oakland County Sheriff's Lt. Tim Willis said during the teen’s court hearing.

"This was not just an impulsive act," McDonald said. She went on to say the shooting should be a wake-up call for new gun laws in a country that has become "desensitized to school shootings."

"We have to do better," she continued. "How many times does this have to happen? How many times?" » Oxford High School Shooting: 4 Dead; Suspect Charged As Adult, via Rochester-Rochester Hills Patch

More on the Oxford high school shooting:

• Oxford High School Shooting: Justin Shilling 4th Confirmed Death
• 'I Have No Words, Only Tears.' Remembering Madisyn Baldwin
• Tate Myre Remembered By Oxford Football Team
• 'Beloved Teammate': Oxford Community Remembers Hana St. Juliana
• Oxford High School Shooting: Watch, Listen As Police Respond
• Ethan Crumbley: 5 Things To Know About Oxford HS Shooter

Omicron In United States

A person in California was the first in the U.S. to test positive for the omicron variant of the coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Wednesday morning. The patient was fully vaccinated and had returned from South Africa on Nov. 22.

Much mystery still surrounds the newly identified variant, which was dubbed a "variant of concern" by the World Health Organization on Friday. » 1st U.S. Omicron Variant Case Detected In California, via San Francisco Patch

• Related: Omicron Variant Of Coronavirus: 5 Things To Know

U.S. Abortion Rights At Stake

In the biggest challenge to abortion rights in decades, the Supreme Court's conservative majority on Wednesday signaled they would allow states to ban abortion much earlier in pregnancy and may even overturn the nationwide right that has existed for nearly 50 years.

The outcome probably won't be known until next June. But after nearly two hours of arguments, all six conservative justices — including three appointed by then-President Donald Trump — indicated they would uphold a Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. » Supreme Court Signals It Could OK New Abortion Limits, Toss Roe, via Across America

• Related: Photos: Protests Intensify As Supreme Court Hears Abortion Case

Stacey Abrams Running For Governor

Democrat Stacey Abrams is running for Georgia governor again. Abrams on Wednesday announced her second gubernatorial candidacy for the state after losing to Republican Gov. Brian Kemp in a close race in 2018. » Stacey Abrams Announces 2nd Run For GA Governor, via Atlanta Patch

Rep. Omar Replays Death Threat

During a news conference Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar played a racist death that that was left on her office voicemail this week. Omar says that death threats against her spiked following Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert's anti-Muslim remarks. » Rep. Omar Plays Racist Death Threat Left On Her Voicemail, via Southwest Minneapolis Patch

‘Thank You For Being A Fan’

How much do you love NBC's "The Golden Girls?” If the answer is a lot — or even a little — mark your calendars for the first-of-its-kind, weekend-long classic TV comedy fan fest "Golden Con: Thank You For Being A Fan," scheduled for April 22-24 in Chicago’s Northalsted neighborhood. » First-Ever 'Golden Girls' Festival Slated For Chicago In April, via Chicago Patch

More national headlines on Across America and other Patches:

• Death Of Bullied Utah Girl Draws Anger Over Suicides, Racism
• Case Against Jussie Smollett Focuses On How 'Hoax' Unraveled
• Hurricane Season Goes Out Like A Lamb, But Still Above Average
• 2021 Patch Holiday Food Drive: How To Give To Feeding America

Around ‘The Patch’

Laundrie Home For Sale? Despite a "for sale" sign popping up at the North Port, Florida, home owned by Brian Laundrie's parents, they have no plans to move. Laundrie was a person of interest in the strangulation death of his fiancee, Gabby Petito, via Sarasota Patch

Workers Trafficked To Georgia Farms: A newly-unsealed federal indictment alleges 24 people brought agricultural workers to the U.S. illegally to work in conditions akin to "modern-day slavery," including in Georgia, via Atlanta Patch

Lucky Wrong Number: When a Michigan high school basketball team added a wrong number to a text chain, they ended up in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers locker room, via Boston Patch

More local news:

• Cook County Breaks 1,000 Homicide Mark For First Time Since 1994, via Evanston, Illinois, Patch
• 3 Austin High School Students Found With Magazines, No Gun, via Austin, Texas, Patch
• Adopted For The Holidays: New Jersey Families Celebrate, via Bloomfield, New Jersey, Patch
• Sick VA Hospital Staff Comes To Work; 18 Infected, 1 Dead, via Chicago Patch
• Former Georgia Student Stars In 'Annie' On NBC, via Decatur Patch
• Maryland Governor Urges Vaccination, Testing As Omicron Variant Lands In US, via Annapolis Patch
• Wife Of Music Exec Clarence Avant Killed In Beverly Hills, via Beverly Hill Patch

House Hunting

For one night this holiday season, up to four guests will have a chance to spend a night in the Winnetka, Illinois, home of the fictional McCallister family in the classic 1990 film "Home Alone." The unprecedented offer is part of a promotion by the short-term rental company Airbnb and the studio marketing "Home Sweet Home Alone," the sixth movie in the "Home Alone" franchise.

This Day In History

In 1983, the groundbreaking music video for Michael Jackson's song “Thriller” aired on MTV.

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