(WXYZ) — Families of the Oxford High School shooting victims and survivors came together on Monday to call for an independent investigation into the deadly Nov. 30, 2021, shooting.
Four students were killed during the shooting: Tate Myre, Justin Shilling, Hana St. Juliana and Madisyn Baldwin. Seven other people were injured.
Related Video: Watch the full press conference as families call for an investigation into the Oxford shooting
The school shooter pleaded guilty in the case and was sentenced to life without parole. He was 15 at the time of the shooting. James and Jennifer Crumbley were both convicted on four counts of involuntary manslaughter related to the shooting carried out by their son.
"We'll fight. We'll fight to our grave. I'm never going to give up this fight," Buck Myre, the father of Tate Myre, said at the press conference.
Related Video: Watch the interview with Buck Myre after the press conference
The families say they continue the fight in order to make schools safer.
“When my kids have kids, I want schools to be better. I want it to be safer for my grandkids,” said Buck Myre. "We want the full truth to come out. I know we kind of sound like a broken record but how do we know what to change if we don’t do a legit investigation that our state funded schools will recognize."
Steve St. Juliana, Hana's father, said: “What we’re here today trying to drive is looking at the big picture and how do we fix the broken pieces of the system itself. We know there’s a lot more there."
Oxford did hire Guidepost Solutions to conduct an investigation, however, the families said that many people refused to cooperate and left key questions unanswered because they didn't have subpoena power.
That investigation was released in October 2023 and was a 572-page report that detailed what district officials may have known about the shooter.
WATCH BELOW: Independent firm releases Oxford High School shooting investigation report; here's what they found
While the report says the district's actions did help save lives and keep students safe with its training and safety protocols, there were certain areas where the district failed.
"... in certain critical areas, individuals at every level of the District, from the Board to the Superintendent and his cabinet to the OHS administration and staff, failed to provide a safe and secure environment. Although only the Shooter is guilty of murder and assault, and his parents will be tried for their alleged gross negligence with respect to their son, the District was responsible for keeping Madisyn, Tate, Justin, Hana and all of the other OHS survivors and students safe and secure at OHS on November 30, 2021, but failed to do so," part of the report said.
The report also said the "tragedy was avoidable" and that district officials often denied responsibility and shifted it elsewhere.
The firm says the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office provided everything they requested.
Because of that, the families are calling for the State of Michigan and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel to fund and mandate a full investigation that requires full cooperation from everyone involved.
The families said that they are supported by Village of Oxford, Oxford Township Board, Oakland County Board of Commissioners, and the offices of the Oakland County Executive, Oakland County Prosecutor and Oakland County Sheriff.
In a press conference later on Monday, Nessel said her office has offered the Oakland County Sheriff's Office and Oakland County Prosecutor's Office several times to conduct a third-party investigation, and that their offers were "soundly rejected."
"We offered immediately to help the Oakland County Sheriff's office in their investigation. They declined the sheriff flat out refused. I asked the Oakland County Prosecutor if they desired or were interested in our help. I offered it over and over and over again and each time the Oakland County Prosecutor refused," said AG Dana Nessel.
Nessel said that they've never withdrawn the offer and that neither the prosecutor's office or sheriff's office has asked the AG's office to help in the investigation. She says per policy her office will not supersede any criminal investigations being handled at the local level without a formal request.
Nessel also said that she doesn't have any more subpoena power than the sheriff's office or prosecutor's office.
"We don’t have some specific statute on the books that allows us to have civil authority to launch a civil investigation. We just have the criminal authority. That’s exactly what they have," said Nessel. "So I guess my question is to Sheriff Bouchard: If there are additional things you think need to be investigated and specifically I’m talking about any crimes being committed by members of the school board, administration or staff, why didn’t you investigate it?"
Watch Nessel speak about their offers in the video below
The new Oxford School Board has also asked the state to conduct a full investigation, and Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald told us in September that she supports parents and the request.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard released a statement later on Monday that reads in part, "As we have said from the beginning, we are more than willing to participate in any state review or investigation,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. “I told the victims of this tragedy I would support any effort that would answer all questions they have. If the attorney general would like access to our investigative reports or our people, I will happily provide them."
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald then released a statement, saying that her office doesn't have the authority to conduct the investigation the families have asked for.
"We are not aware of any mechanism for our office to refer a matter to the Attorney General’s office when it has not been presented to our office. And what the families are asking for is much broader. We are not aware of any action needed by my office to activate the Attorney General’s authority, but we will do everything possible to enable such an investigation. And my office will fully cooperate with any such investigation," McDonald said in the statement.
WATCH BELOW: Parents support school board's call for state investigation into Oxford school shooting
