Shooter, Part II
by Michael Bradburn

"11-99 Shots fired!" screamed out on his radio. Shots fired at another high school. How could this happen twice in two weeks? Turning the patrol car around he raced, along with every other officer to the school. Information was broadcast there was a second shooter, and the first was down.

Moments later he arrived to chaos as other patrol cars raced in. There were two patrol cars in front of the school, and the officers had a person on the ground, who was bleeding from his mouth and other areas. This was the suspect who had been shot by an officer. A brave officer that had been on the campus at the time of the shooting, with no fear or regard to his personal safety he raced out and confronted the shooter. Shots fired and the officer prevailed. Lives were saved that day by his quick actions.

After the suspect was secured, a lone paramedic asked for assistance. There were wounded students near the center of the campus. Would he escort the paramedic to the victim? "Stay behind me" was ordered and off they went. Another officer took up the rear. Lives’ needed saving.

Searching across the vast campus for shooting victims, while dodging a second shooter believed to be on campus. How could this happen twice in two weeks? Instructions were shouted. If the second shooter was observed, they would take him out. No warning, no pause, no hesitation. Lives were at stake.

A classroom door opens and shuts. Is this the shooter? Racing to the door they open it and see movement into another room. They open that door to find terrified special education students hiding. Fearing that he was the shooter.

The primary victim was located. A decision to evacuate was decided. Two brave paramedics drove onto the campus in their ambulance to the victim. With helicopters overhead, they evacuated in the midst of chaos.

Swat teams poured in as officers locked down the campus. All students were ordered on the floor, in their classrooms. Evacuations would be one room at a time, under heavy guard, to a park across the street.

Chaos transposed the peaceful park into a mass evacuation. Students, parents, and the media kept pouring in. Everybody was asking, "Why?" How could this happen again.

Due to the brave officer on campus nobody died and only a handful were wounded.

The next morning flowers lined the front of the school in remembrance of the wounded.