Oxford (Mich.) high school community is grieving the death of four students Wednesday lost amid a five-minute shooting barrage by another student Tuesday on campus. Two of the victims were athletes, one whom is being called a hero for trying to stop the gunman.
Tate Myre, 16, a junior running back and middle linebacker was one of the four victims. He'd just returned from a recruiting trip to from the University of Toledo, according to the
Detroit News.
Also among the confirmed deaths were Madisyn Baldwin, 17, an aspiring artist, and Hana St. Juliana, 14, a basketball and volleyball player, and Justin Shilling, 17.
Myre tried to disarm the shooter, according to multiple reports, which has
prompted a petition to name the school's football field after him for his "act of bravery should be remembered forever and passed down through generations, he put his life in danger to try and help the thousands of other students at Oxford High School," wrote Drake Biggie, the petition's organizer.
According to reports, Myre died in a patrol car while being rushed to a local hospital.
As of Wednesday morning, nearly 57,000 have signed the petition in Myre's honor with a goal of reaching 75,000 signatures. "Tate was a great young man with a bright future and beloved by all," his team Tweeted.
Among other signatures on the petition:
"Tate is the face of Oxford Football. He will be missed, and we need to
do something to recognize him. This is that thing," wrote Joseph
Cusumano.
Tate Myre, Oxford
Photo by Kent Koller
A Tweet from his teammates included: "He was a tremendous football player with the brightest of futures and was an even better young man off the field as he was on. We all loved Tate and he will so very much be missed."
Myre had just finished his junior season in which he averaged seven yards per carry, 12.4 yard per catch with 34 receptions and 10 touchdowns. He added 71.5 tackles on the defensive side for the 6-5 Wildcats.
St. Juliana's basketball teammates have already dedicated their season to her, stating they will not forget her "kind heart, silly personality and passion for the game."
The gunman, a 15-year-old student, was placed into custody according to reports. No motives have been released.
Oxford, with an enrollment of around 1,800, is roughly 50 miles north of Detroit.
