Court clears school officials from 2021 shooting lawsuits

A federal appeals court has ruled that two officials from the Oxford Community Schools will not be held responsible for the actions of the Oxford High School shooter. This decision came after the shooter killed four classmates in 2021. The court found that school counselor Shawn Hopkins and dean Nicholas Ejak did not act with indifference to the risk posed by the shooter. In fact, Judge's comments highlighted that Hopkins urged the shooter’s parents to seek counseling for him quickly, showing concern rather than negligence. The appeal raised questions about whether Hopkins’ warning to the shooter's parents made the situation more dangerous for students. After they were warned, the shooter returned to class with the gun used in the tragic attack. This ruling has put an end to the federal lawsuits against the school officials. However, several civil lawsuits related to the incident are still ongoing.