I love red days. I mean seriously, I love coming to school on Red Days. I was walking with my boyfriend at the time to his class, which was World History, and I was walking to English. I was right outside the doors when a security guard grabbed me and told me to go into the library. Of course, I said in a stupid way, “Is my class in there?” Anyways, I heard someone yell really loud for everyone in the hallway to get into the library and there was a huge rush of kids coming up the stairs. I found a few of my friends and asked them what was going on. Along with everyone else, no one knew. We all got in there and everyone thought it was a drill, including me. I’ve gotten
my cell phone taken away a number of times, but after I found out this was real, I pulled it out and I started texting with about 11 different people. A few were even from other schools, telling me they were in lockdown too. After they announced that we were going to be evacuating, I got 4 phone calls. There were so many people in the library. Everyone saw police and SWAT outside in the hall. We were all so scared because of what happened with Virginia Tech.

I found out who reported it. My first thought was honestly that he was doing it for attention, but then I was thinking, “Who would seriously do that for attention?” We were all actually talking about it. How he could be making it up? But it’s not like we said anything to an adult or anything.

I think we were in the library for 3 hours. After we all got really bored, we all pulled out our phones and started taking pictures. Of course, everyone had to go to the bathroom and I saw a few people go in Gatorade bottles. It was weird, but when you gotta go, you gotta go.

I was in the very back corner of the library so I laid down next to a friend and I was probably half asleep when everyone started crowding toward the door. Honestly, I was so happy to be finally getting out of there. So we go
to the Civic Center and we’re seeing all our friends asking them if they’re okay and everything. We all crowd into the Civic Center and when Mr. Jones announced it was false, the whole auditorium moaned and gasped. It was so shocking. I’m just glad it was a hoax because that would have been really scary. My mom called me crying, and she even left work.

- Tierra

I was sitting in my desk, waiting for the bell to ring and class to begin. It’s not uncommon to have a lockdown or fire drill because it seems like we are practicing them all the time. So when Mr. Jones came on the intercom and said we need to go into lockdown, I didn’t think much of it. It seemed strange because in the hallway everyone was rushing to class. I don’t know why but I wasn’t scared at all, even when we were told a gun was sighted. The teacher shut off the lights and locked the door. Some people took out their ipod and the teacher announced that we could have our cell phones out too. I found out afterwards, that in many classes kids weren’t allowed to use their cell phones. I think that it ridiculous because that is the only way that parents could know what was going on and not freak out. I always have my cell phone with me. In fact, I’m always the person getting caught with it. But it just so happens I left it in my locker that day. How perfect. So, while everyone was texting and receiving pictures of the swat team, I could only watch and get mad at myself for not bringing it to class.

Over the intercom, the principal told the teachers to check their email for information on what was going on. I asked my teacher what it said but he wouldn’t tell us because usually we aren’t supposed to know that stuff. Of course, we were told shortly after that. You can’t expect 2,000 students to cooperate when we have no idea what’s going on. After about 5 minutes, they made an announcement that someone had been sighted with a gun but he had fled the school. We were told that the police were called but we had no idea, until later, how big of a deal this was. We turned on the news but turned the volume down really low. They were interviewing one of the cops and showing footage of the swat team surrounding the school. It seemed that we were really safe because there were people everywhere and rumors of snipers on the roofs near by.

Speaking of rumors, there was a ton. It was impossible to know what was going on because half the information we got was false. We heard there were shots at an elementary school, that the science department had been taken hostage, and that they had found the person with the gun. All of this turned out to be false. You could only trust what we were told over the intercom but they only gave announcements about every hour. On the news, they said that parents could go to a near by grocery store to get more information. I wasn’t sure if my parents would know where to go when they found out what was going on so I called my dad with a friend’s phone. He sounded worried so I told him that we were ok but I didn’t really know much more than him. My friend and I moved across the room to sit with other people. We were all really calm and no one seemed to be afraid at all.

Using the computers in the room, we went to the journal’s site and read the articles that were posted about the current situation. There is a place that you can leave comments, so we did. We thought it would be interesting for readers to see the perspective of the students inside the school. When I looked at the site after the lock down, there were nearly 100 comments. Everyone else had the same idea as we did. It was kind of weird to see that all of the cover stories were about the lockdown and Virginia Tech. It’s pretty sad that that’s all there is to talk about!

After about 2 hours the principal made an announcement that, room-by-room, people would be coming to escort us across the street to the civic center. It took forever for them to get to us! We were the one of the last departments to be evacuated so we had to wait another one and a half hours to leave. In that time we talked a lot and just hung out. Later we found out the whole thing was a hoax. There were mixed feelings about this because some people were happy that we got to miss school, others were mad that they had been so scared, and yet some people, like me, were just angry about how long we had to sit there bored. It was a crazy experience that was actually kind of fun but I definitely don’t want it to happen again.

-Kenzie

I wasn’t here for the lockdown on Tuesday, but as soon as I heard about it, it was all I could thing about. I was so worried for the people in the school, I wanted to inform and talk to the people I knew, but at the same time I wanted to ensure their safety by not making their phone ring. Although I did feel worried, at the same time I felt like there wasn’t really a threat. I was told that it was a “shooting” as in someone had been shot or was in danger of being shot, instead of just a threat. Thoughts were racing through my mind like worries about not seeing someone close to me again. It was the first time in my life that I actually felt that there was danger present. Its hard for people who haven’t had something so dangerous happen in their life to comprehend what it feels like. All I can say is that its like a shot of adrenaline and a shot of thoughts through your mind. Its scary.

Though my feelings during the period of danger were intense, as soon as I found out it was a hoax, at about 2:30 my thoughts were even more intensified at the person who would make something like that up. I felt like an outcast not being there for my peers and family, but it still effects you deeply. If it had been more than it really was, I would have been thankful that I wasn’t there, but still mad that I couldn’t be there to try to make things better for classmates or family.

- Andy

It wasn’t a special morning, just a regular ole day. First period was over with and I couldn’t wait for the other three periods to be over and done with. I was already in the classroom when all of this was going on. I turn to my left and I see everyone outside the classroom door running for his or her lives. I thought Ms. O’Dell was messing around with them because she was standing in the doorway exclaiming to “hurry up,” with a big ole smile on her face. I had no idea that we were in a lockdown because I was too busy chit-chatting with others in the classroom. I saw Mr. Sheehy shut the door very quickly. He takes his keys out of his pocket and locks the door. Immediately after that, the lights shut off. He walks to the front of the classroom quietly, and tells everyone in a whisper tone, to quiet down. He said that we were in a lockdown, and there was a possible gunman in the school. I was confident that if I had to pick any other classroom, this would be it. So just because of that and Jesus Christ, I had no fear what so ever during this whole situation. No knots, butterflies or Goosebumps.

Another thing that calmed us down a lot was we being able to use our cell phones, watch T.V. (no sound at all until the news showed us), and listen to the radio through headphones. When you are in a dark room in a corner with every other student and nothing to do but think, that scares a lot of people. When you have things to occupy you, this stuff gets taken off your mind, you breeze through it with no fear. We got moved to the civic center and had the story repeated to us by Mr. Jones. He told us that about 30 min. ago the student had admitted to the story being false. Sad but true, and actually it is kind of good it was false, you know what I mean?

- Kitric

Last Tuesday, we had to stay in the English Room for three whole hours. At first, I thought it was a drill, but it actually turned out to be real. Yea, it did turn out to be really nerve-racking for us. We had to get out of the building swiftly, across the street, and into the civic center. It was another surprise that Principal Jones stated that the statement
appeared to have been phony. Now we had to make up another day of school, which is reasonably a shame. I am not angry with the kid responsible with the incident, but I am really ashamed that he turned out to pull an acting job on the personnel, i.e. crying, while reporting. I do believe it turned out to be ironic. However, I am glad that it did not involve anything brutal or violent, but just a false statement. That meant that our school was more alert, and that it gave all it can to keep us safe.

Even though there was a three-hour lockdown with no bread or restroom breaks, our class was still safe. Yea, it did scare me that we were going through a very cautious state, and that the man would come barging into our classroom, but I pulled together, along with everyone else. And yes, I did not appreciate much of the loud noise that our whole class
was making. I am glad we were able to do something during the three hours of hiding, though. I am glad that Mr. Jones was able to inform us and tell us the right instructions in order to vacate the school quickly without any struggle. I am glad that Mr. Jones stated that it was actually false. I feel sorry for the kid who pulled it off, because I know this is going to be even tougher for him, as what it actually was for us. I just want to thank Mr. Jones and all the other people who helped us get to the Civic Center safely. I praise He who was able to salvage us into a safer place, and that we are still on our feet today.

- Ian

When I first heard that there was a lockout I was not sure that it was for real, I mean I thought it was just a drill or something, so I just hurried to my class. When I got to class my teacher said that if it was a drill they would not do it during passing time. So then I got a little nervous, but still not scared…then about 30mins later Mr. Jones said that there is a man in the school with a hand gun…that is when I got very nervous. I thought *&%$ this is for real.

He said to just stay calm, my class did for a while and about 2 hours in we all started to relax and watch TV. I can remember when the cops finally came to our class they came in and told us to line up and grab each others shoulder, the thing that made me scared was that he had very big guns – I mean like one guy had like a AK47 and a shotgun. I think that is when everyone really understood the situation.

- Sal

During the lockdown there was a lot of waiting…..and sitting…..and more waiting. When Mr. Jones said that there was someone spotted in the Central parking lot, people started to freak out. And I got bored…..really bored. So I though I should get out my iPod and start rocking out. So me Sal and Luke where watching South Park on my iPod. IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then Mr. Jones said we would be evacuating the school room by room. About three hours later they came to get us. I didn’t really think that there was guy with a gun in the building but then I found out that this was serious. When I saw the SWAT member standing outside of our door I had mixed thoughts. SWAT and police were everywhere! Shotguns, AMG’s, and a sniper rifle! It was cool….. but kind of scary.

Then when we found out it was some kid that lied about it….. it made me so mad. But its scarier now then it was when it was happening. Now it seems surreal.

- Caleb

On the 17^th of April, the weirdest most scariest thing happened at Central High School. It all started in second block on a red day with a lockdown. I just kept wondering the whole time whether it was true or just practice. The whole three hours that I was in Mr. Sheehy’s class I kept thinking it was a dream and when I would wake up, everything would be okay, but sometimes everything isn’t that perfect.

During the time in class I was sitting next to my friend and we were both texting our family and friends. One of my sisters sent me a text message that said, “Are you okay, it is all over the news that a guy came in your school with a hand gun.” That is when it hit that something was really happening. When the one of the police men finally opened room C226 it felt like I was safe, but still was in shock.

After all of this shocking, horrifying crisis that happened, it made me think of how people can have the guts to do something so horrible. I was also thinking, what if someone was telling you something that was really serious and you didn’t believe them, something maybe would turn out bad? So what I really learned in this experience that if something is happening that can cause any trouble or death, just go with it and believe them because it might save your life.

- Alysse

I thought that the lockdown was a drill at first. But then when Mr. Jones came on and told us that it was not a drill I got a little worried. Then after about a half an hour I just got really bored. I was really glad that Mr. Sheehy let us text and call our parents. I also thought that he handled the situation really well. If I were to ever get stuck in a lockdown again I would want to be in his room. I just felt really safe with him.

Then when we turned on the T.V. and saw all of the police I was kind of worried. I didn’t think it was a big deal until then. I also liked how fast the police got there. I heard that they were there in at least two minutes. Later that day I started to think about what could have happened. I also got a new perspective of things. I had so many things that were going trough my mind. I thought about my sister at South, because at the time I only knew that the guy had left after he got spotted, so I thought that he might go over there since the shooter knew that Central was locked down. I kept getting these text messages from this girl in Stevens asking if I was alright and I would say yes. She was really worried about me.

- Zach

I was talking in the hallway like any other day before Mr. Sheehy’s class. When the intercom came on and said something but I wasn’t listening I just thought it would be one of those messages that was telling someone to come to the office, so I thought I would just keep talking. A few seconds later Mr. Sheehy came by and told Adam and I to get in the classroom right now! I thought it was weird because Mr. Sheehy is not the kind of person to tell someone to get to class. When we got in the classroom all I could hear was people talking and running around. When Mr. Sheehy told us all to sit down and be quiet I knew something was happening, something bad.

We sat in that dark room for 3 hours until someone came and got us and while I was in there all I was thinking is how my friends feel and if this is really true. I had a feeling that something like this would happen because of the shooting at Virginia Tech but I never thought it would happen to us at our school or even like this.

People have twisted minds and I feel bad for them in a way. People who do things like this have an illness or some experience that made them want to take it out on others. The kid who did this now that I think about it and everything that happened must have wanted attention, and when I say attention I mean a lot of attention. Another part of me doesn’t feel bad for people who do this because he made so many parents, kids, teachers, and administrators feel so insecure and worried about their lives. The kid who did this made people sit in dark rooms, pee in trash cans, cry, feel like they weren’t safe, and most of all the thing he did made everyone see things that could effect them for a long time. No one wants to go to school and see a gun the size of their leg. Or even feel like they’re going to get shot. I know now that for a couple days or even weeks when I come to school I won’t feel totally safe because of what took place. On March 17, 2007 at 9:35 in the morning my school went into a lockdown and at a little after 1 we found out it was all a hoax!

~Megan