It started off as a typical Tuesday. I was going to go to work with Shane, but instead I decided to play hooky and ask Adrey if she wanted to go Christmas shopping, instead of waiting until Thursday. So off we went, around 1.30 I think. Me, Adrey, and her four month old daughter, Ella.
We started the day going to Ross...with insanely long linces... I kept thinking maybe people had the day off from school off or something because there were so many people out. Then we stopped at the bank, and headed to the mall.
We started out by parking at Macys. Walked through there and then made our way to Forever 21. Went downstairs, and decided to get coffee from the Starbucks inside Barnes and Noble, except that we were at the window part of it (still in the middle of the mall) I had bought my coffee, Adrey was ordering her hot chocolate, and the barista was in the midst of making it when we heard the shots fired.
We heard one shot, then two and everyone just froze for a second. Perhaps thinking something had dropped or fell, or a balloon had popped. But they just kept coming. I saw a look of terror on Adrey's face and we all started running.
We ran as fast as we could through Barnes and Noble and out the door. The gunman was defiantly right behind us. As we ran I could hear the shots getting louder and closer. All I could think about was trying to block Adrey and little Ella from getting shot, since they were in front of me. Thankfully Ella was in a baby carrier, instead of a stroller. As people were just arriving at the mall they were trying to ask us what was going on, and since the gunman was right behind us I simply said "run like hell"
We ran all the way across the parking lot to Claim Jumpers Restaurant. Then we saw the first squad car. Followed by at least thirty or forty more. There were over 100 officers and four swat teams, helping to escort those who weren't able to escape. Many stores closed their gates while the people hid in the back rooms.
Two people were killed, and one injured before the gun jammed, and then later fixed itself and the gunman committed suicide. He fired sixty shots, and there were 10,000 people at the mall. Its by the grace of God that so few people were hurt. It was also the grace of God how our day turned out. After coming out of Forever 21, instead of getting coffee I was going to suggest to Adrey that we go to Bath and Body works because I wanted to look at the candles. Had we done that, instead of get coffee like I suggested...we would have been right where the gunman's rampage started!
The mall is still closed and will reopen tomorrow, where they will hold a vigil. Even the surrounding stores and offramp from 205 is blocked off as well as the max and bus lines.
I have so much to be thankful for!!!
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