DISCLAIMER: The following entries include real events and my thoughts on being in the midst of an active shooter situation.
4/7/19
12:20 AM- I’m with my parents! Man, I missed them!
12:45 AM- Time to get rid of some of the stuff in my pack…and then add what my parents brought me!
1:45 AM- MUST SLEEP!
7:15 AM- So tired but I’m so excited for today! We have a tour of Warner Bros studios booked, we’re going to see the Hollywood sign, and the walk of fame!
7:20 AM- I’ve forgotten how to do everything prior to the World Race. It feels like I’m in America, but I still cant remember to flush the toilet paper..
7:25 AM- I actually thought about how much spare time I had while waiting for the water to get warm..oh the luxury!
8:40 AM- My parents are still in bed and we’re leaving at 9:15.
9:05 AM- FOOD! Bagels with cream cheese, muffins, fried eggs.. Thank you, Jesus!
9:30 AM- People hear gunshots outside. A lady comes in to tell us to grab the kids and run. At first we’re all curious and not moving very fast because she was so calm about it. Then the shots get louder.
9:31 AM- Time is moving in slow motion at this point. People start panicking. Everyone is running toward the elavators. One opens with at least 20 people trying to get on. I was in the elavator but I wasn’t scared for my life at this point. I just wanted them to close the elavator door but there we’re too many people.
9:33 AM- We hear someone scream that the gunman is coming in the building. The elevator door shuts with me, my mom, and a bunch of other women and children. My dad is on the other side of that door with no protection. Instantly, I’m consumed with fear. Multiple people on our elevator start praying…mine is more of a selfish plea. God, please protect my dad. Don’t let him be a hero today. Just let him get upstairs. Please, God.
(The only thing that gave me peace in the moment was that I knew our hotel was filled with prayer warriors) I don’t even remember doing it but before the elevator doors closed, Megan and I had sent messages to our squad that there was a gunman in our hotel and to get in a room and stay there.
9:36 AM- Everyone is trying to barricade themselves in the first room they can get to. Me and my mom end up in Megan’s room, Codi and Sage end up in some strangers room, and everyone else is unaccounted for. We immediately start trying to call my dad and it takes 3 tries before he answers but he’s safe. Instant relief. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
9:38 AM- My dad makes it to the room and Megan and I immediately start trying to track down our squad and make sure everyone is accounted for.
9:40 AM- Anxiety is high, people are trying to hold it together, we still haven’t heard any news, and our whole squad still hasn’t been tracked down.
9:45 AM- Q Squad is safe and accounted for! Praise the Lord!
10:00 AM- The gunman is confirmed to be out of the building. My parents and I decide to go to their room on the 4th floor so we can see what’s happening outside. There are at least 17 cop cars on this side of the building as well as a helicopter. Officers have their guns drawn and seem to have located the gunman across the street.
10:10 AM- SWAT has arrived. I feel like I’m watching a live movie. I still cant believe this is happening.
10:40 AM- They have apprehended the gunman. We heard gunshots..not sure if they shot him or not.
10:50 AM- EMT are huddled over the gunman. They’ve brought a stretcher out. We’re still on lockdown and not allowed to leave our rooms.
11:15 AM- The gunman has been put in the ambulance. He is alert and sitting up. We have been told we can leave our rooms but we can’t leave the building until the investigation is over. Today has not gone as expected. The enemy is working hard.
12:00 PM- Daddy has gone downstairs to get a play by play and we were told we were evacuating so me, Mama, Codi, and Katrina start heading downstairs. Once we get to the first floor, we can see swat in a black armored vehicle point his rifle straight inside the building. Another officer yells at us to barricade ourselves in a room so we start running back upstairs to Megan’s room whose was closest.
1:00 PM- There is so much miscommunication that we don’t know what to do. We’ve been told to evacuate and also to stay put. My dad is still downstairs and they won’t allow him to come up. Turns out the gunman was staying in our hotel and he shot a cop. (He is alive and recovering!) They are now checking for explosives on the first floor. Come to LA they said…it’ll be fun they said..
2:15 PM- We can finally go downstairs! I’m on sensory overload and I need to get out of this place before I lose it.
3:00 PM- Our day is almost gone and definitely not what we planned but we still get to go to In and Out.
3:15 PM- We called an Uber after walking 3 blocks and it’s the most interesting thing I’ve ever been in. There are decorations all over the car and he has a karaoke machine with a microphone..
3:45 PM- We still aren’t allowed back in the hotel with an open investigation going on and we aren’t sure if we will make our flight or not. Honestly, the last thing I want to do right now is make our flight..
4:00 PM- In and Out was worth it and Codi, Sage, and Bethany got to eat with us! Now off to Target for some last minute things we need since REI is shut down for the day. (The gunman shot the police officer in the REI parking lot across the street from our hotel)
5:00 PM- We’ve been told by our squad leaders to meet at Starbucks in 30 minutes. There is no way we will be there on time.
5:45 PM- We made it to Starbucks. The plan is to walk back to our hotel, pack our things, and then meet back at Starbucks. Our parents have to stay behind with the stuff we have because nothing can be taken into the hotel. I need an attitude check. I’m so over today.
6:30 PM- Emotions are running high. People are on edge and I’m at the top of that list. I’m disappointed that the 1 day I had with my parents was literally taken hostage. I want a redo with my parents, I could care less about making our flight on time, and I know that’s selfish but I’ve hit my emotional capacity for the day and I have nothing left to give.
7:35 PM- Our Uber’s keep canceling on us because they can’t figure out how to get to us with all the roads blocked off by police.
7:50 PM- Finally, we’re in an Uber and on the way back to my parents.
7:58 PM- What was supposed to be a 1 minute Uber drive has turned into a 12 minute Uber drive. I feel like I could have a meltdown at any moment. Lord, please check my heart.. I know today happened for a reason but all the emotions I’ve held in all day are trying to come out at once.
8:02 PM- Finally made it to Starbucks. I plan on being the last car to leave for the airport.
8:20 PM- It’s time to order an Uber and say our goodbyes. I really don’t want to get on this plane. I want a redo of today.
9:00 PM- Traffic is terrible. There’s a possibility that not all of us will make our flight but the goal is to get as many people on it as possible. I still need a heart check. I WANT to miss this flight.
9:40 PM- This is by far the most intense airport security that I’ve been through. I’ve been frisked from head to toe and they seem to think I’m harmless.
10:05 PM- Unfortunately, I’m one of the first people to make it to gate.
10:25 PM- I don’t think many people are handling the stress of today very well now that the day is ending. I know I’m at the top of that list.
10:50 PM- We’re boarding the plane..
11:05 PM- I plan to sleep for the first half of this flight.. Goodnight.
I did sleep for 7 hours..and then we had another 17 hours of travel until we made it to our hostel. I was drained physically, emotionally, and spiritually and stopped taking notes for my sanity.
I never thought I’d be writing a blog like this but if you made it to the it, thank you.
-H
