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Justin Shilling: Hundreds honor 17-yr-old victim of Oxford school shooting as his organs are donated

'The crowd is here so that when his body is moved for surgery his family can look down and see the love and support,' a reporter tweeted

Oxford residents showed up in hundreds outside McClaren Hospital, where Justin Shilling -- a 17-year-old student who was shot dead after teen suspect Ethan Crumbley opened fire at a Michigan high school, was about to undergo surgery for organ donation on Friday, December 3. 

A photo of the moment was posted on Twitter by journalist Allie Gross. "McClaren Hospital where Oxford community is gathered to support the family of Justin Shillings, one of the four teens killed this week. Justin is an organ donor and the crowd is here so that when his body is moved for surgery his family can look down and see the love and support. It is so quite here, nobody is talking just waiting and hugging. All you hear is the occasional sniffle," she wrote in a series of tweets. 

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Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard addressed the crowd on behalf of Shilling’s family. “It means a great deal to them clearly… Take care of each other, talk to each other, support each other… This isn’t supposed to be happening and it’s not supposed to happen," he said. Apart from Shilling, three others were killed in the shooting; seven were left injured. The suspected shooter, Ethan, has been arrested and charged as an adult with terrorism causing death and four counts of first-degree murder. He has also been additionally charged with seven counts of assault with intent to murder and 12 counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen D McDonald said. 

'Unreal in every way'

The picture went viral with over 72,000 likes. It drew an overwhelming response from people, most of whom expressed their grief at the tragedy that took Shilling's life. "When is it one too many children killed at a school shooting? Is it when someone kills 10, 30 100? When do we realize whatever the hell we’re doing isn’t working. Children going to school should be able to return home at the end of the day. It’s not too much to ask for," one of them said, while another wrote, "When a donor is taken to surgery at the acceptance of the family all available nurses join in for the 'walk' from ICU to the OR. It's the most heartbreaking experience but no greater way to honor the gift of life the family is giving to others in need."

A third quipped, "Can you imagine what kind of emotions you'd be having as the family looking down at them? Unreal in every way." The next remarked, "Michigander here. Reading this brought tears to my eyes that are now streaming down my face. This absolutely breaks my heart. I continue to pray for this community, it’s citizens & especially the friends & family of those who died & were injured during this senseless tragedy."

One more noted, "Probably all the moms reading this are crying too. Unimaginable grief." A commenter tweeted, "Justin Schillings… his memory has already become a blessing." A person reacted with, "Touching but I also remember when people gathered after Sandy Hook or to cheer on health care workers at the beginning of #COVID19. We need these preventable tragedies & the shared sense of loss that follows to inspire enduring policy change. Otherwise we’ll be back here again."

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Touching but I also remember when people gathered after Sandy Hook or to cheer on health care workers at the beginning of #COVID19.

We need these preventable tragedies & the shared sense of loss that follows to inspire enduring policy change. Otherwise we’ll be back here again.

— Nathan Chomilo, MD, FAAP (@ChomiloMD) December 3, 2021

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