In the wake of the shooting at a school in Michigan on Tuesday, tens of thousands of people have signed a petition to rename the local football stadium in honor of a student who was reportedly killed trying to disarm the shooter.
Tate Myre, 16, has been identified as one of the three victims who died in the shooting at Oxford High School. The others have been named as 17-year-old Madisyn Baldwin, and 14-year-old Hanna St. Julian.
According to his fellow students, Myre, who played running back for the Oxford Wildcats football team, was shot while trying to disarm the shooter and later died from his injuries.
Hours after the shooting, an online petition was set up calling for Oxford High School to rename the Wildcat Stadium after the "hero" teenager, which has attracted more than 33,000 signatures.
"Tate is not just a hero to his fellow students at Oxford high school but a legend, 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," the change.org petition states.
Some signatories wrote messages of support for the campaign.
"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.
Skyler Berney added: "Nobody should go to school and never come back home. This is the least we could do for him, my heart aches for his family."
Myre's football team also paid tribute to the 16-year-old.
"Tate was a wonderful young man who was tremendously hardworking and respectful," the Oxford Wildcats football team tweeted following his death.
"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 it. We all loved Tate and he will so very much be missed."
It is with great grief that one of the victims of the tragic event at OHS today was one of our own, Tate Myre. Tate was on varsity since his freshman year and was an honor student. Tate was a great young man with a bright future and beloved by all. You will be missed, Tate 💙💛 pic.twitter.com/AKJCH1UWBG
— Oxford Football (@OxfordFootbalI) December 1, 2021
Words can’t describe what is going on. My mind can’t comprehend. I miss you already bro and I promise you I will make you proud. I love you 3,000. Rest easy 42 Psalm 34:18 pic.twitter.com/0XOtKblpfW
— Brady Carpenter (@BradyCarpente15) December 1, 2021
A 15-year-old sophomore student of Oxford High School has been taken into custody over the shooting.
The Oakland County Sheriff's Office said that a 9mm Sig Sauer used in the attack had been purchased by the suspect's father four days prior to the shooting.
At this stage, investigators do not believe the suspect had an accomplice.
Oxford Wildcats have been contacted for comment.
