OXFORD, Mich. – The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office released this week internal documents that show agreements reached with two Oxford High School staff members who are not facing charges in connection with the mass shooting.
Prosecutors are publicly sharing the details of so-called proffer agreements made with Nick Ejak, former dean of students at Oxford High School, and Shawn Hopkins, a high school counselor currently on leave. Both Ejak and Hopkins interacted with the Oxford shooter on the day of the massacre, and have testified about their experiences several times.
Neither Ejak nor Hopkins will face criminal charges, despite some believing the pair had opportunities to prevent the Nov. 30, 2021, shooting. The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office has maintained that it won’t bring charges against any Oxford staff or administrators, who are protected by governmental immunity.
But it’s important to understand that the recently-released proffer agreements, which were signed on Jan. 5, 2022, have nothing to do with immunity. The language used in the agreements shows the prosecutor’s office wanted testimony from Ejak and Hopkins, but would not offer them any deals.
What was put to paper in this case was Ejak’s and Hopkins’ cooperation -- which would be considered if they were to be criminally charged. Under the proffer agreement, any statements made by Ejak or Hopkins in this case would not be used in any potential criminal prosecution of them.
But the staff members’ cooperation did not clear them from criminal prosecution altogether, as explicitly stated in the agreements. You can read the full proffer agreements below.
Some parents who have seen the agreements say they are disgusted by the timing of them. On Jan. 5, 2022, parents were still reeling from the tragedy and going to the school to get their children’s things, which were left in a panic.
Community members, including the parents of the four students murdered in the shooting, continue to express desire to hold the school district accountable for its alleged role. Ejak and Hopkins are particular targets, since they held a meeting with the shooter and the shooter’s parents just hours before the shooting began.
---> What we learned about Oxford counselor’s meeting with parents, shooter amid mother’s trial
Both of the shooter’s parents have been found guilty of four counts of involuntary manslaughter, and are scheduled to be sentenced in April. The Oxford shooter himself has been sentenced to life in prison without parole.
But Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald has made it clear that the evidence doesn’t support criminal charges against school staff or administrators. Still, the parents of the murdered students are going to court in hopes of stripping the district’s governmental immunity from prosecution.
Those parents, who formed a group called The Families For Change, have recently called for the “immediate removal” of some Oxford school board members. They are also requesting an investigation into the district itself.
---> Conviction of Oxford shooter’s parents ‘just the beginning’ for parents of murdered students
Prosecutor McDonald has been clarifying some information following the recent trial and conviction of James Crumbley, father of the Oxford shooter. Crumbley is accused of making threats toward McDonald in 2023 and 2024 prior to his March trial.
McDonald said she will include Crumbley’s threats in his sentencing documentation because she believes they show his lack of remorse for what happened the day of the shooting.
Watch Mara MacDonald’s full report below.