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I was almost involved in a shooting...

PostPosted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 5:00 pm
by RubyJewelStone
Here's the article...

Two shot dead before children's birthday party
BY N. SPANGLER AND E.E. LOPEZ
[email]nspangler@---Herald.com[/email]

There was supposed to be a child's birthday party Saturday at a home on Northeast 9th Place in ---.

Instead, there was a shooting -- with two dead and four others injured -- authorities said.

Late Saturday night, it was unclear who fired shots or what set off the gunfire, but police, fire rescue workers, neighbors and partygoers who arrived after the shooting described a horrendous scene inside and outside the home in the Greenbrook development.

--- police spokesman Roy Rutland would only confirm that those who were killed and those who survived ranged from 3 to 30 years of age.

He said police were first called to the home at 3:19 p.m., but he would not discuss the circumstances of the shooting and would not disclose the identities of any victims.

''The investigation is currently ongoing,'' he said in a prepared statement released late Saturday night to the media.

--- news partner ---CBS4 had reported that relatives thought the shooting occurred during a home invasion robbery at the home, but police would not confirm the report.

Three shooting victims who survived were airlifted to --- Hospital, while a fourth was taken by ambulance, according to --- Fire Rescue spokeswoman Elizabeth Calzadilla-Fiallo.

''They were all seriously wounded and all were victims of firearms,'' she said.

Late Saturday afternoon, police had sealed off the house and encircled much of the block around the house with yellow police tape, keeping neighbors and reporters far from the home. Television trucks clogged the street.

<my name>, 16, a junior at <my school's name>, and her big sister Sophia <last name>, were on their way to help decorate for the birthday party thrown for Sophia's son, Laquan, 4, and the young son of a family friend.

''We drove up and I saw a lady lying on the ground,'' <name> said. ``I wondered if she'd broken her ankle. Then I saw the two kids on the porch bleeding. I believe they were shot.''

Neighbors said they heard shots coming from the home at 20517 NE Ninth Pl., in the Greenbrook development, shortly after 3 p.m.

A Spider-Man invitation indicated that was around the time a party for young boys was supposed to start.


That was so messed up. Me and my other sister were supposed to be in that house earlier to help set up for that party which was a double party for my nephew and another kid who died in the shootings. However, the sister I supposed to ride with to be there earlier was running late and got lost. Then my sister Sophia picked me up instead and we met my other sister in a parking lot to let her follow us to the house.

When we got to the house police had not arrived and there was a woman on the lawn who I thought broke her ankle but I found out later that she was playing dead. Then I saw two kids one the porch a little boy and a little girl—both covered in blood. I thought the little boy had fallen until I realized that all that blood couldn’t be from one person. Sophia ran into the house and found both Carla, a family friend, and her son shot. Her son was shot twice in the head and I think she was shot in the chest. I didn’t go in the house so all about inside of the house is what I overheard from my frantic sisters.

I called my parents and TRIED to direct them to the house. Let me take this chance to emphasize how much cul-de-sacs, courts, places, and all kinds of twisty streets should be BANNED.

My sisters were questioned all day since police are notoriously slow. Plus CSI had to to get DNA of my sister Sophia so that she wouldn’t be accidentally accused since she touched the body.

So everyone saw me on the news at church. It really got annoying since they don’t realize that I was there BEFORE the police. So there was no cleaned up scene or anything— just a lot of blood and really dazed people with bullets in them.

To think my other sister and I were almost in that house… We’re thanking God that our time management sucks. None of us can believe that that family friend was dead. She knew us for a long time and even dated my brother for awhile. This is really shocking.

Those stupid reporters tried to patronize me by asking me some loaded questions. Here's my personal favorite.

Reporter: Wow...so do you feel lucky?
Me: *shakes head* ...No, I know it was God.

Of COURSE they wouldn't have THAT part in the news... *roll eyes* Then again, I couldn't exactly start preaching about providence and the elect on the street while trying to find out if my sister passed out from shock.

Another favorite is when the reporter was asking what kind of chicken we had in the SUV. I gave him a look like "WTHECK is wrong with you?! THE CHICKEN?"

PostPosted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 5:12 pm
by Radical Dreamer
Wow, what a tragic event! I can't believe someone would just bust into a house and start shooting children. What a messed up world we live in, but God is good, and you're safe! I'll be praying for your family and your friend's family; I know this must be a really hard time for both of you.

PostPosted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 6:34 pm
by Tenshi no Ai
...oh wow... I'm really lost for words on this... but I'll definetely be praying.

PostPosted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 6:38 pm
by Mithrandir
Oh my. Wow. There's just nothing to say. Thank God you're save, but my heart goes out to everyone. :( You're in our thoughts and prayers!

PostPosted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 6:46 pm
by Puguni
Oh my goodness. If only those same people were as lucky...that's absolutely terrible. Children?!

PostPosted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 7:17 pm
by Kawaiikneko
The reporter asked about the CHICKEN?! What kind of heartless person asks about that sort of thing?

But.. wow.... Thank God He protected you. I'll be praying for you, your sisters, and everyone else involved... That must've been alot of shock. Well, I'm glad you're safe.

PostPosted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 7:32 pm
by RedMage
Prayers.

PostPosted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 8:02 pm
by Mithrandir
Kawaiikneko wrote:The reporter asked about the CHICKEN?! What kind of heartless person asks about that sort of thing?

But.. wow.... Thank God He protected you. I'll be praying for you, your sisters, and everyone else involved... That must've been alot of shock. Well, I'm glad you're safe.

Many reporters believe that by painting a picture of "more detail" they can make a scene appear more dramatic: "Their crispy-skin KFC clearly visible in the car is mute evidence of the intrerupted routine..." etc, etc. I'm not defending them in the slightest, but I figured you might wanna know why that particular question.

PostPosted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 8:08 pm
by Yahshua
Hm will prays and thanks God you are alive.

PostPosted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 8:17 pm
by HisaishiFan
Just prayed for you all. This is so sad.

PostPosted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 8:33 pm
by meboeck
WOW. That's really freaky. I have prayed and will keep praying for you, your family, and the other families involved. I'm so glad you and your family members are safe.

PostPosted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 8:52 pm
by RubyJewelStone
Thanks for the prayers everyone.

PostPosted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 9:29 pm
by ChristianKitsune
As a fellow Journalist I must say that I am appauled by they way that they treated you...that's just not right...(chicken?)

Anyways.. I am really sorry that this happened! I will pray for you and your family! I am truly sorry that you lost a friend...
All this violence is sickening...*rollseyes*

PostPosted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 9:56 pm
by soul alive
Wow. That is absolutely horrible. Thank God indeed for your being late.

You, your family, and everyone else involved will be in my prayers.

PostPosted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 6:26 am
by Warrior4Christ
Unbelievable... *speechless* I can't even imagine the shock you (and your sister) must have been in...

In my prayers.

PostPosted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 8:07 am
by QtheQreater
Whoah. I can't even imagine something like that. It must have been awful! I'll be praying for you, those kinds of images don't usually leave quickly...

PostPosted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 2:57 pm
by revolution
I will definitely be praying for you and the families involved...

PostPosted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 4:44 pm
by RubyJewelStone
Thanks for the prayers everyone.

Right now I'm REALLY sick of retelling the whole story. Everyone is like, "OMG! I saw you on the news. LIKEOMG! YOUR FAMOUSE!!111 *smile*"
They don't seem to understand that I was there before the police so there was no nice cleaned up scene. Also, the last thing I want to do is hear about how "cool" it was to be on TV or how nice my hair and sunglasses looked in the shot...>.<...

Then there's the awkward silence...

PostPosted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 5:14 pm
by Angel37
*hugs* Hun, I've been there. if you need to talk or anything, I'm here for you. you're in my prayers.

PostPosted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 5:33 pm
by Yumie
Oh man, how aweful. I'm so sorry. I can't imagine how traumatic that must have been for you and your sister. Praise God that you were late, I can't imagine anything but that that must have been Divine Providence that you were spared. How are the survivors fairing?

PostPosted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 5:34 pm
by ChristianKitsune
wait...they were saying how cool you looked on tv...at a murder?!

sickos...

PostPosted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 7:28 pm
by RubyJewelStone
The kids that survived were in critical condition last time I heard and this other lady was released but put in isolation or something. I'm not quite sure.

PostPosted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 7:12 am
by termyt
I have no idea what you are going through, but you and all those involved are in my prayers. It is impossible to know what good can come out of this, but we are promised that all things work out for the good in the end.

Perhaps the chicken question was a misguided attempt to lighten the mood or cause you to think of something else for a moment?

PostPosted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 7:17 am
by Kurama
Oh My Gosh. This is amazing and sad. I will pray. And it sure was God.