DeKalb Shooting Personal Scare
My heart started racing as we were handed breaking news to read during the 5pm news Thursday night.
Mass shooting in a lecture hall on the campus of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.
My youngest brother is a student there. (Brian is pictured here on the left, next to our other brother, Kevin)
**(He has now commented at the end of this blog with some very personal observations)
As horrifying as any tragic story is, it’s unbelievable how much more intense it becomes when someone close to you - very close - is potentially affected. I couldn’t wait until we got into a commercial break. I called my dad from the news desk - he answered without a hello.
“He’s okay.”
After the show I talked to my brother Brian - a newlywed journalism student with a darling little boy. “I was supposed to be there” he told me. “I had to miss class this afternoon because of my job with the radio station. I would have been sitting right in the front, next to the emergency door where they say the guy came in and started shooting.”
I felt tears welling up in my eyes at the thought of how close my brother had just come to grave danger, and how horrible this time must be for the families of those students who were hit.
An update as of 6pm Fri: Brian has discovered this was indeed his classroom. His class class was scheduled for 3:30. The shooting was right around 3pm.
“I haven’t stopped going since this happened and I don’t think it’s sunk in yet - but yeah, it’s really freaky” he told me.
It’s so strange how quickly tragedy turns an ordinary day upside down.
Brian had been wearing a tux and handing out roses as part of a Valentine’s day stunt for the classic-rock radio station where he works. (He’s a bit of a ham with understated charm - so they love to send him out into public to embarass himself for the benefit of listeners.) But his lighthearted assignment dissolved after this news came in - Brian switched into news reporter mode, calling classmates for more information, checking out info from scanners and other broadcast reports, and fielding the onslought of calls from concerned family members.
I’ll make sure to update if he hears anything more. I’m definitely sending a few prayers toward DeKalb tonight.
TS
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Hello everyone,
This is Trisha’s younger brother Brian. Trisha had asked me a few hours ago if I wouldn’t mind writting a response to events that occured today on the campus of Northern Illinois University.
I sit here exhausted, a bit shaken, and clueless as to where to start. It’s weird that my whole life, I have believed that there is a purpose for everything, even if i couldn’t figure out why, there was some under-lying purpose to everything in life. I don’t know why I had decided a month ago that I would not go to my class on the afternoon of Valentines Day, in order to do a “promotions gig” for the radio station I work for, but I did. Now I sit in shock, as 5 of my fellow classmates have been murdered in the building where I was supposed to be. The door the gunman used to enter the lecture hall, is the same door I use to exit, it’s the closest door to my front row seat. I can’t help but ask “why?” Why would someone do such a thing…but moreover, Why had I decided to give up an afternoon class to dress up in a tux and deliver Valentine’s Day Suprises to people?
With all of that said, I can’t begin to imagine what it must be like, not just for the students who were in the lecture hall; but for the families of the students who are in the hospital tonight, praying for their son or daughters life; and some mourning the their death.
I some how escaped all of this; I was not in class today; I won’t have to live the rest of my life with the picture of chaos imbedded in my head. One of the students said she would never forget the image of that man appearing from no where, holding that huge gun, and start shooting. How is one supposed to battle on with their life after witnessing such a horrific sight?
Back in December (10th to be exact), The first day of finals were cancelled because of a threat written on a bathroom wall. The threat made reference to the shootings at Virginia Tech. People were worried… but not for long. After a day or two, we just figured, that it was a prank… Some kid didn’t want to take his/her finals. And we left it at that. Two months and four days later… it happened.
In conclusion i would like to pass on an invitation to everyone…Wear NIU Huskie Red tomorrow! And say an extra prayer tonight for the victims, their families and friends.
I am not sure if this is exactly what Trisha was looking for, but this is me…Happy that I am home with my wife and son…But truely saddened by todays events.
GOD BLESS,
Brian Whitkanack
N.I.U Senior
P.S. I just recieved a call from my sons’ God-Father. He infromed me that two of his wifes’ serority sisters were shot and aqre in critical condition, and are in to surgery. Two freshmen girls, just sitting there taking notes…now lay in surgery fighting for their life. Please keep them in your prayers.
I’m glad that your brother is O.K!
God Bless
Trisha I am so happy Kevin has been spared and pray for him and the emotions he
will wrestle with for a long time. Our prayers for all the students / faculty at NIU.
Can’t help but wonder if the writer of the Dec 10 threat and the shooter have been
compared. We’re thinking about you too. God Bless
Thank you Cameron.
PJA - I appreciate your concern. (It’s actually my youngest brother, Brian who’s the NIU student - Kevin is my other bro.) It was fortunate timing that we were all home at my parents house for a gathering this weekend - really good to see everyone and talk through the panic everyone felt that day. Brian keeps marveling at how many people called and emailed to check on him. I think you don’t realize how much you matter to people until there’s a scare like this. I am certainly wondering how he and all the students will pick up and move on after something this tragic.
I appreciate your taking time to read and share your thoughts. Take care!
Trisha Shepherd
Dear Trisha:
I know exactly what you are going throught. Back in December when that young man shot up the mall in Omaha was the worse day of my life. My mom works in that mall and I was so nervous something had happened. Since at first there are some many different stories of where he was shotting. Well I keep trying to call my mom, the cell phone lines were busy. I was trying to keep calm. But everytime I called for 45 minutes it was busy. Then finally she answered and as soon as we both heard each others voices we started to cry. WOW that was a moment that will stay in my heart but then she tells me. She said “Marie I was in that store on the same floor at the same exact time yesterday” She was there buying some pj’s for my kids for christmas”. She had made herself go shopping on Monday instead of Tuesday to get it done. Her emotions were going wild if that guy would have choosen to go the day before. Only god knows what could have happened. She was so releaved that it wasn’t her that she felt bad of how thankful she was safe instead of there.
Trisha I understand what you and your family were going throught. I love my mom with all my heart just as I can imagion you and your brother. I am so thankful for my mom. And I am so thankful that your brother is ok. I am happy to hear that he is safe. I hope that everyone from NIU will be able to heal there hearts, minds and bodies.
Best Wishes
Marie, Bloomington
P.S. I Love you and Todd on the news
Marie -
Wow, you sure can relate. That shooting in Omaha was also a terribly disturbing event.
Doesn’t it fill you with a wave of gratitude for your loved ones? When you realize how randomly these things can happen, and how close you could have been to an unthinkable loss, it really makes you stop and think.
Thanks for sharing your story. (And make sure to hug your mom extra tight next time you see her!)
Trisha