Oxford High School shooting: Security guard accused of failing to act added to lawsuit

Judge OK's lawsuit against Oxford school guard

A judge gave an attorney the green light to sue the security guard at Oxford schools, alleging gross negligence. Here's how that could play out with government immunity protecting the school from lawsuits.

OXFORD, Mich. (FOX 2) - A judge approved a motion to add a security guard to a lawsuit filed on behalf of Oxford High School shooting victims.

MORE: Lawyer says guard walked past victim, looked into bathroom before last victim shot

Attorney Ven Johnson filed the motion to add security guard Kimberly Potts to the lawsuit that currently names Oxford school district officials and teachers, as well as against accused shooter Ethan Crumbley and his parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley.

Johnson said that based on security footage he watched, Potts failed to act on Nov. 30, 2021, the day four students were murdered in the school.

Oxford High School parents wait hours to talk about shooting at board meeting

Some Oxford High School parents waited as long as four hours to share their input at a school board meeting Tuesday night. The meeting comes on the heels of revelations that a security guard may have failed to act during the deadly school shooting. The district also revealed its safety plan for the new school year at the meeting.

According to Johnson, Potts, who was armed, told investigators she thought the shooting was a drill. She also told investigators that she walked past Tate Myre after he had been shot, and thought he had makeup on for the drill.

Johnson said the video showed Potts also opening a bathroom door while holding her gun after passing Myre.

Justin Shilling, Keegan Gregory, and accused shooter Ethan Crumbley were inside that bathroom, Johnson said. Potts is seen on the video opening and closing the door with her gun in hand before walking away. Shilling was shot after she walked away.

Shilling, who died the next day, was the fourth and final victim. Ethan Crumbley was arrested after walking out of the bathroom.

Ven Johnson says security guard failed to act during Oxford High school Shooting

Attorney Ven Johnson reviewed video from the shooting at Oxford High School and said the security guard walked past Tate Myre after he was shot and told investigators she thought it was part of an ALICE drill.