In response to the Michigan Supreme Court’s refusal to hear appeals filed by families of the Oxford High School shooting victims, State Representative Josh Schriver (R-Oxford) expressed profound disappointment and renewed his call for legislative and investigative action.

“This decision is a devastating blow to the families who lost everything,” said Rep. Schriver. “By upholding broad governmental immunity, our courts have sent the message that institutional negligence carries no consequence.”

The ruling leaves in place a lower court decision shielding Oxford Community Schools and its staff from accountability, despite evidence that multiple warning signs were ignored leading up to the 2021 mass shooting. A third-party investigation conducted by Guidepost Solutions found that existing school safety protocols were not properly followed by school personnel. The report concluded that the tragedy was avoidable had threat assessment procedures and safety policies been fully implemented and enforced. (Fox 2 Detroit, April 2023)

Rep. Schriver has since called on Attorney General Dana Nessel to launch a full, independent investigation into the systemic failures that contributed to the shooting. He has also introduced legislation to repeal governmental immunity protections in cases involving gross negligence or preventable harm, affirming that families deserve a fair legal path to seek justice.

As a member of the House Oversight Subcommittee on the Weaponization of Government, Schriver continues to scrutinize institutional failures across state agencies and school systems to restore transparency and accountability.

While advocating for justice, Schriver has also long promoted prevention-based safety strategies. His February 2023 article, titled “Evidence-Based Actions to Create Safer Schools,” highlighted the value of peer-to-peer youth mentorship programs in reducing violence and fostering student resilience. A Baylor University study on the Violence-Free Zone initiative reported that “students involved in peer mentorship networks were significantly more likely to report concerning behavior and intervene before violence occurred—proving that relationships, not just regulations, save lives.” (Baylor University, 2015)

In addition, Schriver is advancing legislation to establish the Sentinel Concealed Carry program, allowing trained and vetted school staff to serve as armed defenders in the event of an active threat.

“This is not the end,” Schriver said. “The legislature has the moral obligation to step in where the courts have stepped back. We will fight for the truth, for justice, and for real change that protects Michigan’s students.”