Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Oh What a Day!

It's one of the worst nightmares you could ever have. Never did I think it would happen in our little community.

While I was getting Jack his breakfast this morning, soon to take Macy to school, I heard Chris's ambulance pager go off. Soon after, he came running down the steps. I thought he was going to a car accident, but instead he said "something's going on at the high school!" Gulp! The middle/senior high school is about 3/4 of a mile to the right of our house. Macy's school is about 3/4 of a mile to the left of our house.

I immediately turned on his scanner and listened for news. I heard "stabbing and possible shot heard". How's that for scary? My eyes immediately started to well up. I had to leave the room so I wouldn't scare the kids.

What should I do? I tried calling Chris on his cell phone, but he must've been in a bad spot. I called my friend who's kids go to school with Macy. I could hardly get my words out to her. We decided to keep the kids home until we heard more. I finally then got in touch with Chris and he said it was all under control at the middle/senior high and that it was okay for Macy to go to school. He couldn't tell me much at that time except that there was a bomb.

Sirens were screaming so loud, news helicopters were circling overhead (as I type this, the NBC 10 news van out of Philly went down my street 3 times). Police with bomb sniffing dogs came from the Poconos and Harrisburg, the bomb squad was here and the Haz Mat team.I tried to pull as much info as I could from the scanner and news websites. No one really knew what was going on yet. I was geting the best info from the scanner, of course. I always complain to Chris that he turns the scanners up too loud. Well, this morning, I had 2 of them up as loud as they could go!!

Chris got home around 2pm and I confirmed what I heard with him. A 13 year old went to school this morning normally dressed, apparently mad at the school for some reason. So, he took it upon himself to bring knives and chemicals into the school in a duffle bag. He was in his classroom, right as school was starting, jumped over some desks and tried to light a bomb on fire, a fight broke loose, he pulled out a knife and slashed 3 people. Luckily they are not seriously injured. A school official quickly detained the kid and the police got in there and tackled him. They found a bag of knives outside of the school as well as a glass bottle with a clear liquid in it plus a respirator mask in a bathroom. That's why the hazmat team was called in. It turned out to just be gasoline. The kids were evacuated quickly to the athletic association just down the street from the school and then bussed to Macy's school where their parents picked them up.

I also found out that we live in the block behind this kid. It could've been one of the many kids that walks by our house everyday. Maybe I've said hi to him, maybe I've seen him at the grocery store or at the park and playground. Why did he do this?

What is going on these days? Why do people do this? Is it really worth it? I can't believe this happened. It really can happen anywhere, can't it?
As we are sitting here and Macy saw the news van go buy, she asked what it was. I told her what it was and she said "hey, the news was at my school today". I was looking on one of the news websites and she saw it and said "that one, I saw the number 6 on one of their microphones". She said they didn't come into the school. There are just kindergarteners and 1st graders in her school and they seem to know nothing about it. I'm very glad for that.

Here is a link to the news story.
Local News Story

Here is to a calmer tomorrow!

22 comments:

merrymstamper said...

Scary when you have kids in the same school district. It's good you had a heads up with Chris...

I'm with ya Rach on a better tomorrow!

Unknown said...

Wow Rachael!! Is so frightening hearing stories like this but to have it happen 'in your own backyard'!!
Glad noone was seriously injured and wish the young guy had someone to talk to rather than feel he need to hurt people, sad.
Hugs to you all :)

toners said...

Oh, how scary - and also how sad for the student who felt he had to deal with his problems in this way. I hope he gets the help he needs. Sending hugs to all of you!

Unknown said...

That is so scary. I am hoping everything is better tomorrow.

nicole said...

How scary!!
This is a crazy world...
hope you all find piece of mind after that.

Linda said...

That is scary! I hope everything calms down tomorrow.

Molly said...

Omgoodness, Racheal! How scary! Thank goodness no one was seriously injured. Wow. Was it in Lancaster? That is just way too close to home for me. Wow.

Angel said...

WOW ! That is a fright! I hope you are able to be in the "know" about what happens with this kid!
Since he lives nearby! There are some disturbed kids that live near me! Scary!!!
Times are crazy, these days!

Karen said...

Hugs to all of you. It is so scary to have to live through that, and even more frightening when you really sit and think of what could have happened.

That is one of my biggest fears teaching... you just don't know

Kimberly said...

what a crazy world we live in. i've been thinking about you today. glad it's over. too close to home though...the school right by your house...the kid living in your block. it's just insane. hug the kids. and chris. and try to get some rest tonight. tomorrow will be better.

Janine Langer said...

Glad to hear that everything is fine with you and your kids! :)

Trish said...

HUGS to you guys!

I have so many fears about sending Ty to school b/c of all the crazines in this world.

Kate O'Brien said...

WOW! What a horrific story. Sure puts everything in perspective when something like that hits your community. SO glad you and your family are safe!

Janet said...

Oh, my gosh. When you hear of these terrible things in the news, you never think it could happen in your own back yard. So sad. Janet

Melissa said...

WOW how scary! and so sad that the young kid felt the need to do that.

Im glad to hear no one was 'seriously' injured and that they evacuated quickly. ((hugs)) to you and your family

Melanie said...

Oh my goodness Rachael! How scary! I'm so glad that no one was seriously injured, but this type of stuff scares me because it could always happen to me some day. I hope it was calmer for you today!

Anonymous said...

Oh wow! That had to be really scary! I am really happy that it wasn't as bad as it could have been and of course that your kiddo's are safe.

The thing that scared *me* the most about that story is that my little boy (yeah uhm not) is 13. And I cannot even imagine such a thing ever happening with him. He still hugs me and holds my hand sometimes. LOL

Just makes you want to hold them all a little tighter.

Prayers for your community as they wrap their head around that.

Hope each day has gotten better.

Andrea Amu said...

I'm surprised I didn't hear anything about this! Wow! I don't understand how kids get so out of control and out of touch with reality! Scary world we live in for sure.

Aimeslee Winans said...

Rachael, you kick butt on preparedness and quick thinking, that's my first thought. We cannot protect against things like this 100% nowadays, so knowing when and how to act is so important. Kudos!

Janette said...

WOW girl that is such sad news. BUT thank the Lord everyone is safe and no worse off. I guess you just never know how bad people hurt these days that they would even think to do something like this. I hope that young boy finds peace and love in his life.

Christiane said...

i'm glad that everything is okay with your family!! it's so scary to hear stories like this!!

scrappermimi said...

WOW! It is so scary isn't it, the world we live in.

To a better tomorrow...