Wayne County Prosecutor Has Charged 23 Children Due to False Threats In Wake of Oxford Shooting

With tensions running high after last week’s mass shooting at Oxford High School that killed four and injured seven, schools across Metro Detroit have been canceling classes or going into lockdown following false threats.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy says so far she’s charged 23 children 17 and under, the youngest being 9 years old.

Worthy says false threats aren’t funny and can lead to felonies.

“Parents please talk to your children let them know this is serious let them know even if they intended to be a prank it isn’t a joke,” said Worthy speaking at a press conference on Thursday.

Worthy says that easy access to firearms is a huge problem.

“This nation, and especially this region is going to have to take a serious look at child access to guns, children are fascinated with them, they have access to them,” she said. “And that’s what leads to some of these threats. And we are especially concerned about these cases where these threats are made. And we find out that some of these children actually have access to multiple guns.”

Earlier this year, Michigan Legislative Democrats introduced bills that would require firearms be stored safely away from children. House and Senate Republican leadership has blocked discussion on those bills in committee.

None of the 23 children who have been charged will be tried as an adult, according to Worthy.

Worthy says one student has been expelled from school already and that some of those charged did have access to guns. She says no parents are facing charges.