I had the strangest premonition last weekend.
We were sitting shoulder-to-shoulder in the high school bleachers watching hundreds of band students perform on the field in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. The school was hosting about 30 schools from around the region for the competition.
Maybe it was because the entire area was so tightly packed with students, teachers and parents. I glanced at the crowd around me. The thought hit me suddenly.
鈥淲hat if a gunman starts firing?鈥
Maybe it鈥檚 because of who ran past armed police to get to her children inside Uvalde Elementary School, where 19 children and two teachers were shot to death.
How could I even protect my kid here?
Monday morning one of my closest friends sent a frantic text 鈥 there was an active shooter at her child鈥檚 school. Her daughter is safe. Then, a text from another friend who wrote to say her child stayed home that day. Also, safe.
But a student and health teacher were killed at Central Visual & Performing Arts High School in south 狐狸视频. Six more were injured. This happened in a school that has metal detectors, locked doors and security officers.
Parents send their children to school dreading this kind of nightmare.
Maybe my anxiety was already heightened because Texas lawmakers recently decided to send DNA collection kits to parents. You know, in case their babies鈥 bodies are too mangled by a shooter firing an AR-15 in a classroom. Gov. Greg Abbott thinks this is a better idea than making guns harder to obtain for the potentially violent and homicidal.
My colleagues at the paper rushed to CVPA and reported harrowing details like this student鈥檚 account:
Dakota Willard, 14, who attends Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience 鈥 also housed in the CVPA building 鈥 said he saw what looked like one person, a girl, down at the end of the hallway that joins the two schools.
He said it looked like she was trying to run away by the way she was lying on the floor.
鈥淲hat I saw was traumatizing,鈥 Willard said. 鈥淚鈥檓 OK. I don鈥檛 need any special help.鈥
You do need special help, Dakota. We all do. We are all traumatized. Those of us who have felt panic receiving a lock down message from our kids鈥 schools. Those of us who have grieved a loved one lost to gun violence. Those of us who have lived through an active shooting at a mall, at work, at a concert, at the movies, at school. Those of us who have said over and over again that we don鈥檛 have to live this way. That mass shootings happen this frequently only in America.
Because of our gun laws. Because of the gun lobby. Because of craven politicians. Because of worthless thoughts and prayers.
Missouri has some of the worst gun laws in the country. There鈥檚 no law requiring background checks on unlicensed gun sales. People can carry hidden, loaded handguns in public without a permit or safety training. There are no laws prohibiting domestic abusers from possessing guns. Republican lawmakers even passed a law which prohibits local police and highway patrols from enforcing several federal gun laws.
I thought about that when I read the words from Tonya Neal, a parent whose daughter attends CVPA: At 9:19 a.m., she received a text from her daughter that read, 鈥淢om, I love you.鈥
Neal didn鈥檛 realize until later that there was an active shooter at the school. Her daughter is safe. Her baby might have thought she wanted to tell her mom she loved her one last time.
This is what we鈥檝e trained our children to do.
Because our lawmakers have failed to protect them.
狐狸视频 Mayor Tishaura O. Jones speaks to the media about the school shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in 狐狸视频, on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022.
Photos: School Shooting at CVPA High School in 狐狸视频
High school students console one another in the parking lot of Schnucks on Arsenal, after fleeing Central Visual and Performing Arts High School after a shooting at the school on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022.
David Carson, Post-Dispatch
鈥淗e looked at me, he pointed the gun at me,鈥 said Ray Parks, second from right, a dance teacher who came face to face with the gunman. Parks was prayed over by student Messiah Miller, 16, center, a junior at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School, and others outside the school where a shooting took place on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022, in the Southwest Garden neighborhood.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
People embrace in the Schnucks Arsenal parking lot following the shooting at Central Visual Performing Arts High School in 狐狸视频 on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. Photo by Jordan Opp, jopp@post-dispatch.com
Jordan Opp
People race across Kingshighway at Arsenal Street after a shooting at Central Visual & Performing Arts High School and the Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022 in the Southwest Garden neighborhood. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Robert Cohen
狐狸视频 police officers work outside the scene of a school shooting at Central Visual & Performing Arts High School and the Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022 in the Southwest Garden neighborhood. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Robert Cohen
People embrace in the Schnucks Arsenal parking lot following the shooting at Central Visual Performing Arts High School in 狐狸视频 on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. Photo by Jordan Opp, jopp@post-dispatch.com
Jordan Opp
A third-floor window is shot out at Central Visual & Performing Arts High School following a shooting on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022 in the Southwest Garden neighborhood. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
狐狸视频 Public Schools Superintendent Kelvin Adams steps away after speaking at a news conference outside Central Visual & Performing Arts High School following a school shooting on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022, in the Southwest Garden neighborhood.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
Concerned parents arrive at the scene of a school shooting at Central Visual & Performing Arts High School in south 狐狸视频 on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
David Carson
Police cars assemble at Arsenal and Kingshighway on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022, at the scene of a shooting at CVPA and Collegiate high schools. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
David Carson
狐狸视频 Mayor Tishaura O. Jones hugs U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-狐狸视频, before a news conference outside Central Visual and Performing Arts High School following a school shooting on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022, in the Southwest Garden neighborhood.
Robert Cohen photos, Post-Dispatch
A parent embraces his child at the evacuation point for students who were at Central Visual & Performing Arts High School after a shooting at the school in south 狐狸视频 on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
David Carson
Takisha Duncan (left) embraces her child Taniya Lumpkin, a senior at Central Visual & Performing Arts High School, at the evacuation point on the Schnucks parking lot after a shooting at the school in south 狐狸视频 on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
David Carson
Messiah Miller, 16, a junior at Central Visual & Performing Arts High School, is reunited with his mother Bridget Morrow following a school shooting on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022 in the Southwest Garden neighborhood. Messiah studies music at the school. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Robert Cohen
High School students were evacuated to the Schnucks parking lot from the Central Visual & Performing Arts High School after a reported shooting at the school in in south 狐狸视频 on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
David Carson
People embrace at the evacuation point on the Schnucks parking lot after a school shooting at Central Visual & Performing Arts High School in south 狐狸视频 on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
David Carson
Law enforcement arrives at the scene of a school shooting at Central Visual & Performing Arts High School in south 狐狸视频 on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
David Carson
狐狸视频 interim Police Chief Michael Sack speaks at a news conference watched by Public Safety Director Dan Isom and U.S. Rep. Cori Bush outside Central Visual & Performing Arts High School following a school shooting on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022 in the Southwest Garden neighborhood. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Robert Cohen
狐狸视频 interim Police Chief Michael Sack speaks at a news conference outside Central Visual & Performing Arts High School following a school shooting on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022 in the Southwest Garden neighborhood. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Robert Cohen
狐狸视频 police officers work the scene outside Central Visual & Performing Arts High School and the Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience following a school shooting on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022 in the Southwest Garden neighborhood. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Robert Cohen
Teacher Debbi Cox, center right, shares hugs with a student following a shooting at Central Visual & Performing Arts High School and the Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022 in the Southwest Garden neighborhood. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Robert Cohen
U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-狐狸视频, steps away after speaking at a news conference with 狐狸视频 Mayor Tishaura O. Jones and interim police Chief Michael Sack outside Central Visual and Performing Arts High School following a school shooting on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022, in the Southwest Garden neighborhood.聽
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
Law enforcement officers gather on the football field behind Central Visual & Performing Arts High School and the Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience following a shooting on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022 in the Southwest Garden neighborhood. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Robert Cohen
An ATF agent works at the scene of a shooting at Central Visual & Performing Arts High School and the Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022 in the Southwest Garden neighborhood. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Robert Cohen
Parents and students walk across Kingshighway at Arsenal Street after a shooting at Central Visual & Performing Arts High School and the Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022 in the Southwest Garden neighborhood. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Robert Cohen
An ATF agent passes under police tape at the scene of a shooting at Central Visual & Performing Arts High School and the Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022 in the Southwest Garden neighborhood. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Robert Cohen
Teacher Debbi Cox, center left, stands with a student following a shooting at Central Visual & Performing Arts High School and the Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022 in the Southwest Garden neighborhood. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Robert Cohen
A Central Visual Performing Arts High School employee, left, hugs her sister in the Schnucks parking lot following the shooting at the high school on in 狐狸视频 Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. Photo by Jordan Opp, jopp@post-dispatch.com
Jordan Opp
Schnucks Arsenal frozen foods manager Steven Bunting, left, hands out water bottles to police officers in the Schnucks parking lot following the shooting at Central Visual Performing Arts High School in 狐狸视频 on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. Photo by Jordan Opp, jopp@post-dispatch.com
Jordan Opp
Kit Roesch, right, a junior at Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience, hugs her father Don Roesch in the Schnucks Arsenal parking lot following the shooting at the school in 狐狸视频 on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. Photo by Jordan Opp, jopp@post-dispatch.com
Jordan Opp
People check their phones as they walk towards the Schnucks Arsenal parking lot following the shooting at Central Visual Performing Arts High School in 狐狸视频 on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. Photo by Jordan Opp, jopp@post-dispatch.com
Jordan Opp
People embrace in the Schnucks Arsenal parking lot following the shooting at Central Visual Performing Arts High School in 狐狸视频 on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. Photo by Jordan Opp, jopp@post-dispatch.com
Jordan Opp
Bethlehem Lutheran Church pastor Gerard Bowling, right, leads students, teachers and family members in a prayer in the Schnucks Arsenal parking lot following the shooting at Central Visual Performing Arts High School in 狐狸视频 on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. Bowling arrived at the scene after receiving a text from one of the youth members of the church who attended the high school. Photo by Jordan Opp, jopp@post-dispatch.com
Jordan Opp
A side entry door, shot out at the bottom, is guarded by 狐狸视频 police following a school shooting on the shared campus of Central Visual and Performing Arts High School and Collegiate School of Medicine & Bioscience.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
A side school entry door, shot out at the bottom, is processed by a 狐狸视频 police crime scene officer following a school shooting at Central Visual & Performing Arts High School on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022 in the Southwest Garden neighborhood. A teacher, student and the suspected shooter were killed in the morning attack. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Robert Cohen
狐狸视频 Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner, second from left, and her staff arrive at Central Visual & Performing Arts High School following a shooting on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022 at Kingshighway and Arsenal Street. A teacher, student and the suspected shooter were killed in the morning attack. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Robert Cohen
A man brings flowers to Central Visual & Performing Arts High School following a shooting on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022 at Kingshighway and Arsenal Street. A teacher, student and the suspected shooter were killed in the morning attack. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Robert Cohen
A friend of Alexzandria Bell, the student killed in a school shooting at Central Visual & Performing Arts High School, leaves the school grounds on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022 in the Southwest Garden neighborhood. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Robert Cohen
Teachers and staff members of Central Visual & Performing Arts High School talk at the front entrance and prepare to leave following a shooting on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022 at Kingshighway and Arsenal Street. A teacher, student and the suspected shooter were killed in the morning attack. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Robert Cohen
Police block off the streets around the Central Visual & Performing Arts High School as they investigate the area after a shooting inside the school in south 狐狸视频 on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
David Carson
Teacher Octavio Nieto-Jacobo consoles fellow teacher Debbi Cox outside the Central Visual & Performing Arts High School in south 狐狸视频 on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. The teachers and staff returned to the school to pick up personal items like car keys, jackets, and computers. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
David Carson
Police gather outside the Central Visual & Performing Arts High School after a shooting inside south 狐狸视频 on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
David Carson
Police block off the streets around the Central Visual & Performing Arts High School as they investigate the area after a shooting inside the school in south 狐狸视频 on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
David Carson
Marie Crane, 24, holds a candle during a vigil in Tower Grove Park for the victims of the school shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in 狐狸视频 on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. "It's tragic. I just wanted to be with the community and grieve," said Crane, who lives a few block from the school. Several hundred people attended the vigil.聽
David Carson, Post-Dispatch
Rep. Cori Bush addresses the crowd during a vigil in Tower Grove Park for the victims of the school shooting at Central Visual & Performing Arts High School in 狐狸视频 on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
David Carson
Cody Badgwell (second from right) and Yolanda Sulton (right) stand to the side in a pavilion before a vigil at Tower Grove Park as Mayor Tishaura Jones holds a press conference about the shooting Central Visual & Performing Arts High School in 狐狸视频 on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. Several hundred people attended the vigil. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
David Carson
Kevin Montes and Natalia Serra listen as speakers address the crowd during a vigil in Tower Grove Park for the victims of the school shooting at Central Visual & Performing Arts High School in 狐狸视频 on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. They live about 100 yards away from the school. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
David Carson
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!