A stolen assault rifle and an alleged threat to shoot up the high school led to the arrest of two 17-year-old Oxford residents March 22.
Kyle Michael Etherton, a former OHS student, and Kyle Reece Knox, a current OHS student, were arraigned in Rochester Hills 52-3 District Court Friday on felony charges of receiving and concealing weapons (firearms).
Each was released on a $5,000 personal bond issued by Magistrate Clem Waldmann.
Preliminary examinations for both youths were scheduled for April 26 before District Judge Nancy Carniak.
It all began when a concerned OHS student told an Oakland County Sheriff’s deputy that Knox admitted stealing a rifle and selling it to Etherton, who allegedly planned to come to school on Friday, March 23 and ‘go around shooting people.?
Reported stolen on Sept. 5, 2006 from a residence on Hilberg, the assault rifle (a Colt AR-15 H BAR) was found at Etherton’s residence along with a box of ammunition. He told investigators Knox admitted breaking into the house and stealing the rifle.
Etherton, who dropped out of OHS in November 2006, admitted to investigators he purchased the weapon from Knox for $300, but noted he did so out of a concern for public safety, not to harm his former classmates.
‘During the winter months Etherton noticed a dramatic change in Knox’s demeanor and an increase in illegal drug use,? according to the report. ‘Etherton began to feel threatened by Knox and he did not feel safe ‘hanging out? with him.?
Based on this, Etherton ‘concluded that Knox should not be in possession of an assault rifle because it posed a great threat to the citizens of Oxford Twp.,? the report stated.
Believing Knox was ‘capable of harming someone,? he decided to buy the rifle and did so at a mutual friend’s house on March 21.
Etherton told police he ‘stashed it under his bed until he could dispose of it.?
‘He said he planned to throw it into the lake behind his residence so it would be destroyed,? the report stated.
Knox told police he never made a direct statement that Etherton was going to shoot up the school. ‘He said he had overheard an anonymous classmate make the statement and he was just passing along the rumor,? the sheriff’s report stated.
When investigators told Knox he had been implicated in stealing the assault rifle and selling it to Etherton, the teen’s mother, Lisa Londer, ‘became unhinged and she began screaming,? accusing police of ‘trying to set her son up,? the report stated. Knox refused to make a written statement to investigators.