Oxford High School sophomore Jkhary Charles Craft was shot and killed in Pontiac Thursday, Aug. 27, according to Superintendent Dr. William Skilling.
On Friday, Skilling received a call from a media outlet informing him the 14-year-old Pontiac resident died in a shooting involving Pontiac Police.
Craft, who would have turned 15 in September, attended OHS through the schools of choice program.
“Last year was his first year at OHS,” according to an e-mail sent out by OHS Principal Mike Schweig. “His dad said he loved attending school at Oxford and was looking forward to going back this year for 10th grade.”
Schweig described Craft as “very polite and well-liked around the school.”
“I actually had a few opportunities to play basketball with him,” he noted. “He would stay after school some nights to play some pickup basketball games. I got to know him through that.”
According to a press release issued by the Pontiac Police Department, Craft was armed when he was involved in a shooting with a PPD officer at approximately 2:40 p.m. near the rear backyard area of a home within the 100 block of W. Ypsilanti Street.
The officer is a 13-year veteran of the department.
Craft was pronounced dead at the scene and the weapon was recovered.
The shooting is being investigated by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department per a request from the Pontiac PD.
Undersheriff Mike McCabe confirmed that Craft was armed.
‘He had a gun,? he said. ‘I know it was some sort of long gun. Whether it was a rifle or a shotgun, I don’t know.?
Beyond that, McCabe indicated he can’t comment until the investigation is done.