Contact Info
General Information
prosecutor@oaklandcountymi.gov
1200 N. Telegraph Rd
West Wing - Building 14E
Pontiac, MI 48341
Monday - Friday
8:30am - 5:00pm
8:30am - 5:00pm
News
Statement From Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald on the Minneapolis School Shooting Tragedy
I was heartbroken and outraged when I heard about the shooting at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. School shootings are far too common, as every parent in America knows too well, and gun violence is a national public health crisis. Our focus at this time should be on caring for the victims and their families, rather than the shooter who does not deserve notoriety for their abhorrent crime. I also encourage parents and educators to be vigilant in the wake of this tragedy, as copycat shooters and false threats often follow. There are basic but important things we can all do to keep our children safe.
- Secure firearms: Preventing individuals in crisis from access to weapons is the first line of defense against these tragedies.
- Situation awareness: Pay attention to your surroundings and report anything suspicious. Encourage children to do the same.
- Safety protocols: Make sure your school or organization has a behavioral threat assessment protocol, and they follow it. These plans better prepare schools to prevent violent incidents before they happen and better protect students during an emergency.
As we know from Oxford and other school mass shootings, this problem doesn't go away by ignoring it. By caring for victims, taking appropriate precautions, and supporting policies to address the gun violence crisis, we can make a difference.
- Oakland County Prosecutor Karen D. McDonald