(ANITA)
TONIGHT, 10 ON YOUR
SIDE REMEMBERS THE
TRAGEDY IN VIRGINIA
BEACH.
1 YEAR LATER.
12 MEN AND WOMEN
KILLED AND 4
CRITICALLY HURT 12
MONTHS AGO TODAY.
A DAY THAT FOREVER
CHANGED THE CITY,
AND ALL OF HAMPTON
ROADS.
GOOD EVENING.
I'M ANITA BLANTON.
(TOM)
AND I'M TOM SCHAAD.
ANITA AND I ARE
PRATICING SOCIAL
DISTANCING DURING
THE CORONAVIRUS
PANDEMIC.
WE'RE IN THE STUDIO,
BUT MORE THAN 6 FEET
APART AS WE BRING
YOU THIS 30 MINUTE
SPECIAL REPORT ON
THE LIVES LOST ON MAY
31ST, 2019.
TONIGHT, WE'LL TALK
TO THOSE WHO WERE
THERE.
THE SURVIVORS, THE
WITNESSES, THE
POLICE, THE
DISPATCHERS.
(ANITA)
SOME OF THESE
HEROES HAVE NEVER
PUBLICALLY TALKED
ABOUT THE TRAGEDY.
BUT FIRST, WE WANT
TO RECAP THE
MOMENTS AS THEY
HAPPENED.
(TOM)
10 ON YOUR SIDE'S
STEPHANIE HARRIS HAS
A MINUTE BY MINUTE
LOOK AT HOW THE
EVENTS UNFOLDED.
IT WAS FRIDAY
AFTERNOON, JUST AS
PEOPLE WERE
PREPARING TO START
THEIR WEEKENDS..
WHEN DISGRUNTLED
EMPLOYEE DEWAYNE
CRADDOCK ENTERED
BUILDING 2 BETWEEN 4
AND 4:05 PM
WE JUST HEARD
PEOPLE YELLING AND
SCREAMING TO GET
DOWN
WITNESSES HEARD
GUNSHOTS AND SAW
VICTIMS LYING ON THE
GROUND
THERE WAS A LADY ON
THE STAIR
UNCONSCIOUS BLOOD
ON HER FACE BLOOD
ON THE STAIR WE
DIDN'T KNOW WHAT
HAPPENED : 27
AT 4:06 9-1-1 GETS ITS
FIRST CALL.
I WAS TRYING TO
LISTEN TO WHAT
HAPPENED AND BE ON
THE PHONE WITH 911
AND WE WERE JUST
HOPING IT WOULD BE
OVER SOON
AS TERRIFIED CO-
WORKERS SHOVED
DESKS AGAINST DOORS
--
THE SHOOTER MADE
HIS WAY THROUGH THE
BUILDING --
AS HE SWIPED HIS KEY
CARD TO MOVE FROM
UNIT TO UNIT...
THE VICTIMS FELL -
ONE BY ONE.
I JUST I DON'T KNOW
WHAT KIND OF PERSON
WOULD DO SOMETHING
LIKE THAT
BETWEEN 4 AND 4:16PM
HE SHOOTS
MARY LOUISE GAYLE,
ALEXANDER MIKHAIL
GUSEV,
KATHERINE NIXON,
MICHELLE LANGER,
RYAN COX,
ROBERT WILLIAMS,
CHRISTOPHER RAPP,
TARA GALLAGHER,
LAQUITA BROWN,
RICHARD NETTLETON,
HERBERT SNELLING,
JOSHUA HARDY
THIS IS THE MOST
DEVASTATING DAY IN
THE HISTORY OF
VIRGINIA BEACH
OUTSIDE POLICE
ESTABLISHED A
COMMAND POST.
AT 4:19 -- THE
SUSPECTS NAME IS
DISPATCHED.
THREE MINUTES LATER,
AT 4:22 VIRGINIA BEACH
H-R SENDS OUT AN
URGENT EMAIL TO ALL
CITY EMPLOYES
TELLING THEM TO
SHELTER IN PLACE.
I'M JUST GLAD THEY
ALERTED US IN
ENOUGH TIME SO WE
WOULDN'T BE OUTSIDE
WHEN EVERYTHING
WAS OCCURRING
SWAT ENTERS THE
BUILDING AT 4:26
- A LONG GUN BATTLE
ENSUES...
SUSPECT DID SHOOT A
POLICE OFFICER,
OFFICERS RETURN
FIRE, SUSPECT IS
DECEASED
BUILDING TWO WAS
SECURED AT 5:34
WORKERS BEGAN TO
EMERGE - AND FALL
INTO EACH OTHER
ARMS.
THEIR LOVED ONES
WAITED ANXIOUSLY AT A
FAMILY REUNIFICATION
CENTER" SET UP AT
PRINCESS ANN MIDDLE
SCHOOL
AT 6PM.
AT 9:00 THE GRIM TASK
OF DEATH
NOTIFICATIONS BEGAN
AND WOULD END WITH
TH FINAL NOTIFICATION
AT ONE THE
FOLLOWING MORNING.
(ANITA)
STEPHANIE ALSO HAS
AN INTERACTIVE
TIMELINE ON WAVY-
DOT-COM.
(TOM)
THIS PAST YEAR HAS
BEEN EMOTIONALLY
TOUGH FOR THE
VICTIMS" FAMILIES,
AND IT"S SAFE TO
SAY THERE HAS BEEN
NO CLOSURE.
MICHELLE LANGER
WENT BY THE
NICKNAME, MISSY.
THE 60-YEAR-OLD
WORKED AS AN
ADMINISTRATIVE
ASSISTANT IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC UTILITIES FOR
12 YEARS.
10 ON YOUR SIDE'S
ANDY FOX TALKED WITH
HER SISTER WHO'S AT
HER HOME IN FLORIDA.
PUBLIC UTILITIES
ADMINISTRATIVE
ASSISTANT MISSY
LANGER ONE OF THE
FIRST KILLED THAT
HORRIFIC DAY.
WHEN PEOPLE HAD TO
EXIT, THEY STEPPED
OVER MY SISTER
LANGER SHOT IN
BUILDING 2"S
SOUTH SIDE STAIRWELL
GOING HOME FOR THE
WEEKEND.
PROBABLY ALIVE HAD
SHE LEFT A MINUTE
EARLIER-THE CRUEL
TWIST OF FATE
IT WANTS TO TAKE ME
TO THE FLOOR
SOMETIMES THE WIND
GOT KNOCKED OUT OF
ME
MISSY"S SISTER
DEBBIE BORATO FROM
FLORIDA
PLEASANT SMILING ALL
THE TIME JOKING ALL
THE TIME HUGGING SHE
WAS A VERY
PERSONABLE TYPE
PERSON
BORATO EMAILED US
PERSONAL ITEMS
FROM MISSY"S
OFFICE:
VERY OUTGOING, SHE
LOVED TO LAUGH,
LOUD, AND LONG, AND
CLEAR
IF SHE HEARD PEOPLE
LAUGHING, SHE WOULD
WALK TO THEM TO
WHEREVER THAT
LAUGHTER WAS
COMING FROM SHE
WOULD WANT TO KNOW
WHAT THEY WERE
LAUGHING ABOUT:05
(AND THEN THAT CALL
FROM AFAR. (HOW DID
YOU FIND OUT)
I CAN ACCEPT
SHE"S GONE BUT I
CANNOT ACCEPT HOW
SHE WAS TAKEN
A ROLLER COASTER
YEAR OF SADNESS
JUST STAY IN BED AND
NOT THINK ABOUT IT
ANGER
WANTING TO KNOW
WHY WANTING TO FIND
ANSWERS FINDING
ANSWERS
MYSTERY
NOT SATISFIED WITH A
LOT OF THINGS WE
WEREN"T GETTING
FROM THE CITY 5:49
RIGHT OR WRONG,
MANY OF THE FAMILIES
THINK TOXIC WORK
ENVIRONMENT LED TO
THE SHOOTER"S
RAGE
PER A LOT OF
EMPLOYEES THAT MAN
WASN"T TREATED
VERY KINDLY
AND I WANT THOSE
PEOPLE TO ACCOUNT
FOR THAT
DEBBIE THINKS COURT
ACTION AGAINST
SUPERVISORS IS NOT
TOO EXTREME
THEY PUSH THIS GUY
OVER THE EDGE
AND SHE SAYS MISSY
MAY HAVE HAD ISSUES
WITH HER OWN
SUPERVISOR
RI WOULD GET TO
THE POINT WHERE I
WOULD SAY HOW IS
YOUR BOSS TREATING
YOU TODAY
DEBBIE"S
DEVASTATING LOSS LED
HER TO THE VIRGINIA
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
VERY FRUSTRATING WE
WANT THIS DONE WE
WANT TO GET THIS
DONE
FRUSTRATING, THEY
GOT FUNDING FOR AN
INDEPENDENT STATE
INVESTIGATION, BUT
COVID-19 HAS DELAYED
IT.
DEBBIE AFRAID THE
SADNESS WILL NEVER
GO AWAY
WANT TO THINK OF HER
IN A POSITIVE MANNER I
DON"T WANT TO
THINK OF HER IN THE
STAIRWELL
SHE MISSES HER
SISTER"S VOICE,
THE LAUGHS, THE UPS
AND DOWNS
THEY WERE
NIGHTMARES I GET UP
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
NIGHT AND WALK
AROUND THE HOUSE
AND I STILL DO THAT
NOW
FOR DEBBIE, MISSY
WILL ALWAYS BE AN
ARM"S LENGTH
AWAY
RI WON"T CRY,
NO I WON"T CRY AS
LONG AS YOU STAND BY
ME.
I"M ANDY FOX 10 ON
YOUR SIDE
(ANITA)
SO MANY QUESTIONS.
SOME ARE THE SAME
NOW AS THEY WERE AT
THIS TIME LAST YEAR.
INVESTIGATIVE
REPORTER CHRIS
HORNE LOOKS AT
WHERE THE
INVESTIGATIONS HAVE
LED.
(CHRIS HORNE)
VIRGINIA BEACH POLICE
ARE THE MAIN
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
BUT DID NOT WANT TO
COMMENT FOR THIS
REPORT, SAYING THEY
WANTED RATHER TO
FOCUS ON THE VICTIMS
AND THEIR FAMILIES. I
TALKED WITH
REPRESENTATIVE
ELAINE LURIA, WHO
HAS A PERSONAL STAKE
IN THE INCIDENT AND
THE INVESTIGATION.
REP. ELAINE LURIA / (D)
VIRGINIA BEACH
" FOR A WHILE I
THOUGHT MY JOB WAS
TO GIVE HUGS. I WENT
TO 14 FUNERALS,
WAKES OR MEMORIAL
SERVICES
REP. ELAINE LURIA / (D)
VIRGINIA BEACH
" I PERSONALLY
KNEW PEOPLE WHO
WERE IN THE BUILDING
WHEN THIS HAPPENED,
AND I HAD TO WALK
OUT THROUGH THE
AREA WHERE THE
SHOOTING HAPPENED
AND SO MANY ARE
STILL ASKING THE SAME
QUESTIONS A YEAR
LATER.
REP. ELAINE LURIA / (D)
VIRGINIA BEACH
" WE"VE HEARD
FROM FAMILY MEMBERS
OF THE DECEASED.
I"VE SPOKEN TO
SURVIVORS WHO
INJURED THEMSELVES
AND EVERYONE HAS
THE SAME QUESTION
" WHY? WHY WOULD
SOMEBODY DO
SOMETHING LIKE THIS?
IN ITS REPORT,
INDEPENDENT
CONSULTANT HILLARD
HEINTZE MIRRORED
MUCH OF WHAT POLICE
HAD FOUND - NO
MENTAL HEALTH
HISTORY, NO
MANIFESTO, NO
OBSERVATIONS FROM
COLLEAGUES THAT A
PUBLIC WORKS
ENGINEER WHO'D
WORKED THERE NINE
YEARS WOULD
EXPLODE IN A FATAL
INFERNO OF RAGE.
REP. ELAINE LURIA / (D)
VIRGINIA BEACH
" THERE"S JUST
SO MANY
UNANSWERED
QUESTIONS AS TO THE
MOTIVE OF THE
SHOOTER.
POLICE FOUND NO
CHILDHOOD TRAUMA,
NO TROUBLING
INCIDENTS IN HIS EARLY
LIFE.
THEY DEBUNKED
THEORIES THAT THE
SHOOTER WAS ANGRY
OVER BEING DENIED A
PROMOTION.
HE HAD NO CRIMINAL
HISTORY.
POLICE SAY AFTER HIS
POLITELY WORDED
RESIGNATION THAT
AFTERNOON, HE GOT
TWO LEGALLY
PURCHASED
HANDGUNS FROM HIS
CAR, RE-ENTERED THE
BUILDING AND
MURDERED 12 PEOPLE.
THE CONSULTANT'S
REPORT CREDITED THE
BRAVERY AND ACTIONS
OF FIRST RESPONDERS
ON MAY 31.
IT RECOMMENDED
RENOVATIONS FOR
BUILDING TWO, NOW
DELAYED BECAUSE OF
COVID...
AS WELL AS ADDING 19
EMPLOYEES AND
ESTABLISHING A
THREAT ASSESSMENT
TEAM.
SO FAR FIVE OF THOSE
19 HAVE BEEN FUNDED.
LURIA WORKED TO GET
THE POST OFFICE
ACROSS THE STREET
NAMED FOR RYAN
KEITH COX IN HONOR
OF HIS BRAVERY IN THE
FACE OF DANGER.
REP. ELAINE LURIA / (D)
VIRGINIA BEACH
" RUSHED INTO THE
LINE OF FIRE TO TRY TO
SAVE CO WORKERS
AND DID SAVE THE
LIVES OF SEVERAL
PEOPLE AND THEN
RUSHED BACK OUT TO
SAVE MORE PEOPLE
AND THEN WAS KILLED
IN THE SHOOTING
BECAUSE OF HIS
HEROIC ACTION TO TRY
TO SAVE MORE PEOPLE.
AND LURIA WORKED
WITH SENATOR MARK
WARNER TO MAKE ANY
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE
VIRGINIA STRONG FUND
TAX DEDUCTIBLE FOR
BOTH THE DONORS AND
RECIPIENTS.
EVEN WITH HAUNTING
QUESTIONS
UNANSWERED - LURIA
HAS HOPE FOR THE
TRAGEDY'S LEGACY.
REP. ELAINE LURIA / (D)
VIRGINIA BEACH
"
VIRGINIA BEACH IS
STRONG, VIRGINIA
BEACH IS BETTER THAN
THIS, VIRGINIA BEACH
CAN RISE ABOVE THIS
VIRGINIA BEACH
DETECTIVES PLAN TO
COMPLETE THEIR
INVESTIGATION BY THE
FALL OF THIS YEAR.
THE LATEST STATE
BUDGET INCLUDES
MONEY FOR A
COMMISSION TO LOOK
INTO THE MASS
SHOOTING.
DELEGATE KELLY
CONVIRS FOWLER SAYS
SHE IS ANXIOUS FOR IT
TO BEGIN - AND WHILE
SHE CONCEDES THAT
SOME QUESTIONS MAY
NEVER BE ANSWERED -
SHE HOPES IT WILL
BRING A SENSE OF
CLOSURE.
(TOM)
THOSE WHO WORKED
INSIDE BUILDING 2,
STOPPED TODAY TO
REMEMBER WHAT
HAPPENED TO THEIR
COLLEAGUES 1 YEAR
AGO.
BUT ON EVERY OTHER
GIVEN DAY, MANY STILL
CONTINUE ON WITH
THEIR JOBS.
AS BRETT HALL SHOWS
US, ITS STILL A
DIFFICULT TASK.
"WHILE IT'S EVIDENT
THE TRAGEDY ON MAY
31ST SHOOK THE
WHOLE REGION.
YOU CAN ARGUE THAT
NO DEPARTMENT IN
THE CITY WAS
EFFECTED
MORE---THAN PUBLIC
UTILITIES.
THEY PROVIDE THE
SEWER AND WATER
SERVICE WE USE
EVERYDAY---AND LOST
6-MEMBERS OF THE
DEPARTMENT ON THAT
DAY---AT THE HANDS OF
A SHOOTER--WHO
WORKED ALONGSIDE
THEM FOR 9-YEARS.
A BARAGE OF CLAIMS
THAT THE DEPARTMENT
MUST HAVE A TOXIC
CULTURE
FOLLOWED---ALL WHILE
THE DEPARTMENTS
DIRECTOR---BOB
MOTEGUE---HAD TO
KEEP THE SERVICES
GOING.
IN HIS FIRST TV
INTERVIEW---HE
EXPAINS THE
CHALLENGESS THEY
STILL FACE ONE YEAR
LATER"
"CERTAINLY RANKS AS
THE WORST DAY OF MY
LIFE."
BOB MONTAGUE WAS
INSIDE HIS OFFICE ON
THE SECOND FLOOR OF
BUILDING 2 WHEN ALL
HELL BROKE LOOSE.
AS UNPREPARED AS
ANY OF US WOULD BE
FOR A SITUATION LIKE
THAT.
EVEN LESS
PREPARED---THE 24-
YEAR-VETERAN OF THE
CITY FELT---ABOUT THE
PROCESS OF TRYING
TO TIGHTEN AS MUCH
OF IT BACK-UP---AS HE
COULD
"VERY HARD FOR ANY
OF US TO BELIEVE THAT
WE ARE ALREADY A
YEAR OUT FROM THIS
EVENT."
"THE IMPACTS OF THAT
DAY ARE STILL VERY
VERY EVIDENT."
THERE WAS SO MUCH
LOSS ALL AT ONE TIME.
MOST
VALUABLE---YES--THE
LIVES.
BUT---
"PART OF THE
CHALLENGE WAS IN A
SINGLE DAY YOU LOSE
YOUR OFFICE
FACILITIES. YOU TRY TO
STAND UP TEMPORARY
FACILITIES IN
LOCATIONS THAT ARE
LESS THAN IDEAL."
THE PUBLIC UTILITIES
CALL CENTER---HAS
BEEN RUN OUT OF AN
OLD SCHOOL
CAFETERIA.
FIGHTING FOR OFFICE
NOISE WITH BILLING
AND BACK-OFFICE
PERSONNEL.
OTHERS HAVE TAKEN
UP RESIDENTS IN
STORAGE
CLOSETS---OR
TRAILERS.
"THE RESPONSIBILITIES
NEVER GOES AWAY. SO
YOU ARE REALLY IN A
POSITION WHERE YOU
HAVE TO FOCUS ON
SERVICE DELIVERY."
BUT FOCUSING HAS
ALSO BEEN EASIER
SAID THAN DONE.
CURRENTLY---ROUGHLY
20-PERCENT OF THE
POSITIONS IN THE
DEPARTMENT ARE
VACANT.
TURNOVER HAS BEEN
CONSTANT AND
MONTAGUE SAYS
THERE IS NO DOUBT IN
HIS MIND SOME PEOPLE
LEFT---SOLELY
BECAUSE OF THE
TRAGEDY.
"EVERYONE REACTS
DIFFERENTLY,
EVERYONE RECOVERS
DIFFERENTLY."
OF THOSE WHO ARE
LEFT---PRODUCTIVITY
VARIES DEPENDING ON
THE DAY.
"FOR WHATEVER
REASON, THEY FIND
THEMSELVES IN A
STATE OF MIND WHERE
THEY AREN'T
PRODUCTIVE AND
AREN'T ABLE TO WORK
AND NEED TO GO HOME
SO."
MONTAGUE SAYS ON A
PERSONAL LEVEL---HE
HAS NEVER
QUESTIONED HIMSELF
MORE.
"IN TRYING TO LEAD
YOU START TO
QUESTION WHETHER
OR NOT IF YOU'RE IN A
POSITION WHERE YOU
ARE CAPABLE TO DO
THAT."
STILL HE PRESSES ON.
"I WOULD ASK THAT THE
PUBLIC MAINTAIN THEIR
PATIENCE WITH US AS
WE CONTINUE TO TRY
TO HEAL."
HE SAYS HE---AND
MANY OF HIS
EMPLOYEES WON'T
GIVE UP ON THEIR
QUEST---BRINGING THE
DEPARTMENT TO A
PLACE WHERE IT IS
PROVIDING
SERVICE---BETTER
THAN IT EVER HAD
BEFORE.
A GOAL MONTAGUE
BELIEVES HIS 6
COLLEAGUES WERE
WORKING ON THE
FATEFUL FRIDAY THEY
LEFT THIS EARTH
"WE CAN'T THINK OF A
BETTER WAY TO TRY TO
HONOR THEM THEN TO
CARRY ON THAT
LEGACY.."
IN VIRGINIA
BEACH---BRETT HALL 10
ON YOUR SIDE.
(ANITA)
12 INNOCENT LIVES
WERE TAKEN, 4
SERIOUSLY INJURED,
AND DOZENS OF OTHER
CITY WORKERS WHO
FOUND THEMSELVES
BETWEEN LIFE AND
DEATH.
10 ON YOUR SIDE'S
ANDY FOX HAS ONE
WORKERS STORY OF
SURVIVAL.
(ANDY FOX)
((ONE YEAR AGO TOM
COLSON CAME FACE-
TO-FACE WITH EVIL THIS
CLOSE ABOUT 6 FEET))
(RTHE LAST KNOWN
LOCATION WHERE HE
WAS SHOOTING
THROUGH THE DOOR
INTO THE HALLWAY))
5-31 POLICE RADIO
TRAFFIC VIRGINIA
BEACH POLICE TRYING
ISOLATING THE
SHOOTER
RADVISORY SEND
SOME RESCUE TEAMS
TO GET THE
CASUALTIES OUT)
THIS WAS ALL
UNFOLDING WHERE
TOM COLSON WORKED.
(
RWE NEED TO
ACCESS DOORS ARE
LOCKED. WE NEED
ACCESS KEYS.)
HE WAS THERE IN THE
HORROR
((EVERYBODY OFF THE
PHONE THERE"S AN
ACTIVE SHOOTER GET
TO MY OFFICE
ONE YEAR LATER WE
RETURNED TO
BUILDING 2 AND HE
REMEMBERS
MY CUBICLE WAS
WHERE THE FIRST
WINDOW IS BACK
DIRECTLY DOWN FROM
THERE
PUBLIC UTILITIES
ACCOUNT CLERK TOM
COLSON HAD ALREADY
SEEN THE SHOOTER,
BUT LIKE OTHERS
DIDN"T KNOW HE
WAS THE SHOOTER
UNTIL THEY
EVENTUALLY SAW THE
GUN.
EYES STRAIGHT AHEAD
EVEN WHEN MY
COWORKER WAS
SAYING STOP PUT THE
GUN DOWN, HE
DIDN"T EVEN TURN
THE LOG WAY HE JUST
KEPT WALKING
) ((GOT SECURED IN THE
OFFICE THAT"S
WHEN I HEARD A
GUNSHOT THAT TOOK
ONE OF MY FRIENDS
LIVES
COLSON WOULD LATER
LEARN THAT FRIEND
WAS RYAN KEITH COX
COLSON THINKS HIS
OWN LIFE WAS SPARED
DUE TO FRIENDLY
PLEASANTRIES WITH
THE SHOOTER AT
WORK.
FOR BUILDING 2
WORKERS IT HAS BEEN
A YEAR OF LEANING
((WE LEANED ON EACH
OTHER A LOT ALWAYS
CHECKING IN HEY ARE
YOU OK HOW ARE YOU
DOING))
RAND ONE YEAR
LATER RAND
COLSON NOW FINDS
HIMSELF ON EDGE IN
PUBLIC.
((I HAD A SEVERE
ANXIETY ATTACK))
((THAT WAS HERE
DECEMBER 31ST HERE
AT PEMBROKE MALL. A
CHILDREN"S NEW
YEAR'S EVE PARTY A
FLASHBACK
((WHEN THE LITTLE
BALLOONS CAME DOWN
THE CHILDREN
STARTED STEPPING ON
THE BALLOONS
((SOUNDED LIKE
GUNSHOTS TO ME AND
THEN SOMEBODY
BEHIND ME HAD A
PARTY POPPER
((IT SOUNDED EXACTLY
LIKE THE WEAPON THAT
WAS USED
((I HAD TO A PRETTY
BAD ANXIETY ATTACK
AND I HAD TO GET MY
DAUGHTER AND LEAVE))
MY INSTINCT WAS OH
MY GOSH IT"S
HAPPENING AGAIN :
COLSON WHO IS A
VETERAN GETS MOST
OF HIS HEALTH CARE
COUNSELING AT THE VA
HOSPITAL.
) ((I HAVE BEEN SEEING
COUNSELORS THERE
AND I AM GOING
BRANCHING OUT
SEEING A THERAPIST
OUT IN TOWN
COLSON AND HIS
THERAPIST TALK ABOUT
THE 5-31 RIPPLE
EFFECT
LIKE A STONE IN THE
WATER
THAT ONE DAY CHANGE
THE COURSE OF
EVERYTHING
ONE YEAR LATER,
COLSON FACES
FLASHBACKS IMAGES
OF THE KILLER"S
FACE
MOST OF THEM WITH
HIM WALKING AROUND
WITH A GUN AND
UNFORTUNATELY SOME
OF THE NIGHT MARES I
DON"T MAKE IT OUT
SOME OF THEM I DO.
WHEN YOU GET SHOT
AND KILLED I DO
IT WOULD BE A NICE
ENDING TO THE STORY
THAT EVERYTHING"S
OK FOR TOM COLSON,
BUT AS YOU CAN SEE
ONE YEAR LATER IT IS
NOT.
HE CALLS IT HIS NEW
NORMAL.
I"M ANDY FOX 10 ON
YOUR SIDE.
(TOM)
FOR MANY, THAT RAW
PAIN FROM 1 YEAR AGO
IS STILL A DAILY
REMINDER.
9-1-1 DISPATCHERS
OPENED UP FOR THE
FIRST TIME SINCE THE
TRAGEDY.
THEY TOLD 10 ON YOUR
SIDE'S JASON MARKS -
ABOUT THE DAY THEY
WILL NEVER FORGET.
(JASON MARKS)
NATS 911 WHERE'S THE
EMERGENCY
FOR A DISPATCHER
(SEVERT DAHL/VIRGINIA
BEACH DISPATCHER)
RNO TWO DAYS ARE
THE SAME.
EVERY DAY COMES
WITH A NEW SET OF
CHALLENGES.
(LINDSEY
PIERCE/VIRGINIA
BEACH DISPATCHER)
RNEVER
THERE"S NEVER
TWO DAYS THAT ARE A
LIKE. IT IS LIKE A
SNOWFLAKE
BUT THERE IS ONE
DAY"
(BECKY
HOOKER/VIRGINIA
BEACH DISPATCH
SUPERVISOR)
RWE NEVER WANT
THAT TO HAPPEN
AGAIN
THAT THEY"LL
NEVER FORGET.
RIT WAS HORRIFIC IT
WAS SOMETHING YOU
NEVER AT LEAST I
NEVER THOUGHT
COULD HAPPEN
MAY 31ST- DAY SHIFT
WAS JUST ENDING
THAT"S WHEN THE
FIRST CALL CAME IN
(
BECKY
HOOKER/VIRGINIA
BEACH DISPATCH
SUPERVISOR)
RIT WAS A NORMAL
ROUTINE DAY AND ALL
THE SUDDEN WE WENT
FROM ZERO TO 60 ALL
HANDS ON DECK
(NATHAN
EMILIO/VIRGINIA BEACH
DISPATCHER)
RI TOOK ONE OF THE
FIRST CALLS BEFORE
WE KNEW THE
INCIDENT WAS
HAPPENING AND THEN
MORE CALLS STARTED
COMING IN AND THEY
JUST DID NOT STOP
(
LINDSEY
PIERCE/VIRGINIA
BEACH DISPATCHER)
RTHE BOARD WAS
JUST LIT UP 20, 20, 40
CALLS AND AT THAT
POINT YOU KNEW
THERE WAS
SOMETHING TERRIBLE
GOING ON
(JESSE
BURDIN/VIRGINIA
BEACH DISPATCHER)
RWE ARE JUST
TRYING TO GET AS
MUCH INFORMATION
FROM EACH CALLER
AND GET THE UNITS
THAT INFORMATION AS
WE COULD
(TANYA KING/VIRGINIA
BEACH DISPATCHER)
RIT"S CHAOS
BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO
UNDERSTAND I
DON"T KNOW IF
YOU"VE BEEN UP
THERE YOU HAVE
EVERYBODY ON THE
PHONE EVERYBODY
TALKING PLUS SOME OF
THE RADIO TRAFFIC
THAT YOU ARE
HEARING
(NATHAN
EMILIO/VIRGINIA BEACH
DISPATCHER)
RINITIAL CALL I
THOUGHT SOMEBODY
HAD FALLEN IN THE
PARKING LOT AND IT
ENDED UP
SIGNIFICANTLY
SIGNIFICANTLY
DIFFERENT.
IT QUICKLY BECAME
VERY APPARENT"
THIS DAY WOULD BE
LIKE NO OTHER
(JESSE
BURDIN/VIRGINIA
BEACH DISPATCHER)
RI KNOW FOR ONE
SPECIFIC CALL THAT I
DID HAVE AS I WAS
FINISHING UP THE CALL
I DID HEAR GUN SHOTS
IN THE BACKGROUND
AND THEN THE LINE
CLICKED
(
SEVERT DAHL/VIRGINIA
BEACH DISPATCHER)
RTHERE WAS A GUY
SAYING SOMEBODY HAD
TOLD HIM SOMEBODY
HAD BEEN SHOT HE
DIDN"T HAVE A
WHOLE LOT OF
DETAILS. HE HAD
ALREADY BARRICADED
HIMSELF AND
COWORKERS IN ONE
OF THEIR OFFICES
SO AT THAT POINT IT
WAS JUST GETTING AS
MUCH INFORMATION
FROM AS I CAN. TELL
HIM TO BARRICADE THE
DOOR, TURN THE
LIGHTS OFF, STAY AS
QUIET AS HE COULD
AND HIDE
EVERY TRAINED
EMPLOYEE IN THE
BUILDING JUMPED ON
TO PHONE LINE "
THEY KNEW
SOMETHING
WASN"T RIGHT BUT
FOR MANY IT
WASN"T UNTIL
HOURS LATER THEY
LEARNED HOW BAD IT
REALLY WAS.
(SEVERT DAHL/VIRGINIA
BEACH DISPATCHER)
RI THINK IT WOULD
HAVE BEEN LATER THAT
NIGHT WHEN WE GOT
OFF OF WORK AND GOT
HOME AND HAD TIME TO
SLOW DOWN AND ASK
OURSELVES DID THIS
REALLY JUST
HAPPEN
(TANYA KING/VIRGINIA
BEACH DISPATCHER)
RIT WAS MIDDLE OF
THE NIGHT AND I WOKE
UP AND SOMETHING
ABOUT A SHOOTING.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT A
SHOOTING AND THEN IT
HIT ME
(
LINDSEY
PIERCE/VIRGINIA
BEACH DISPATCHER)
RIT WAS SOLE
CRUSHING IT WAS
DEVASTATING JUST TO
KNOW THAT ONE OF
YOUR PEERS CAN DO
SOMETHING LIKE THAT
OUT OF NO WHERE
DISPATCHERS RELIED
ON THEIR TRAINING AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
MANY OF THEM EVEN A
YEAR LATER STILL
RELIVING THOSE AWFUL
MOMENTS.
(BECKY
HOOKER/VIRGINIA
BEACH DISPATCHER)
RTHERE ARE
CERTAIN THINGS THAT
YOU WILL NEVER
FORGET MOSTLY THE
SOUNDS OF WHAT YOU
HEARD
(LINDSEY
PIERCE/VIRGINIA
BEACH DISPATCHER)
RI GO BACK AND
REREAD THE CASE TILL
THIS DAY READ THE
COMMENTS READ WHO
CALLED GO OVER IT MY
HEAD EVERY DAY
(TANYA KING/VIRGINIA
BEACH DISPATCHER)
NOT IN THIS CITY IT
DOESN"T HAPPEN IN
OUR CITY. YOU SEE IT
ON THE NEWS AND YOU
SEE IT IN ALL THE
OTHER PLACES AND
YOU"RE REMOVED
FROM THAT UNTIL YOU
ACTUALLY HAVE TO
DIVE IN
BUT EVEN THOUGH THE
PAIN IS STILL FRESH"
DISPATCHERS SAY
THEY"RE GLAD THE
WERE THERE TO HELP.
(NATHAN
EMILIO/VIRGINIA BEACH
DISPATCHER)
RPEOPLE DON"T
CALL BECAUSE IT IS A
HAPPY OCCASION BUT
THEN THEY CALL AND
IT"S THE WORST
DAY OF THEIR LIFE I
WANT TO BE THERE TO
HELP THEM GET TO THE
NEXT DAY OF THEIR
LIFE
(JASON)
DISPATCHERS SAY THEY
HOPE THEY NEVER
HAVE TO DEAL WITH A
SITUATION LIKE THE
ONE LAST YEAR AGAIN
BUT THEY KNOW THE
REALITY IS THAT IT CAN
HAPPEN AT ANY TIME.
JASON MARKS 10 ON
YOUR SIDE.
(TOM)
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO
HEAR MORE FROM THE
DISPATCHERS ON WHAT
THEY WENT THROUGH
DURING THE TRAGEDY
IN VIRGINIA BEACH LAST
YEAR - HEAD TO WAVY
DOT COM.
WE'VE ADDED THEIR
FULL INTERVIEWS.
(ANITA)
THE FORMER VIRGINIA
BEACH POLICE CHIEF
ALSO TALKED ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENED 1
YEAR AGO TODAY.
RETIRED POLICE CHIEF
JIM CERVERA WAS JUST
GETTING OFF A PLANE
WHEN HE LEARNED
ABOUT THE TRAGEDY.
CERVERA RUSHED TO
THE SCENE.
HE TOLD US HE WAS
PROUD OF THE WORK
HIS OFFICERS DID THAT
DAY AND HOW THE CITY
CAME TOGETHER AS
ONE.
(JIM CERVERA/FORMER
VIRGINIA BEACH POLICE
CHIEF)
RI REMEMBER MOST
THE FANTASTIC
RESPONSE THE
OFFICERS HAD TO GET
INTO THE BUILDING AND
TO STOP HIM.
THAT"S SECOND TO
NONE. I REALLY
REMEMBER THE
COMPASSION THAT
THEY SHOWED ALL THE
VICTIMS. THOSE WHO
WERE DECEASED AND
THOSE WHO WERE
INJURED. THE
COMPASSION THEY
SHOWED EACH OTHER.
I REMEMBER HOW WELL
THE ORGANIZATION
CAME TOGETHER AND
WORKED THROUGH
THE ENTIRE
PROCESS
(ANITA)
CERVERA SAYS WHAT
HE REMEMBERS MOST,
WERE THE HUNDREDS
OF PEOPLE WHO CAME
OUT EVERY NIGHT TO
THE MAKESHIFT
MEMORIAL TO PAY
THEIR RESPECTS AND
TO THANK HIS
OFFICERS.
(TOM)
EARLIER THIS WEEK,
VIRGINIA GOVERNOR
RALPH NORTHAM HELD
HIS USUAL NEWS
CONFERENCE ON THE
CORONAVIRUS
PANDEMIC.
BUT HE SPENT A FEW
MOMENTS
REMEMBERING THE 12
VICTIMS OF THE MASS
SHOOTING.
(GOV RALPH
NORTHAM/(D) VIRGINIA)
"PLEASE JOIN ME IN A
MOMENT OF SILENCE IN
THEIR MEMORY....
THANK YOU
SILENCE
(TOM)
THERE ARE NO PUBLIC
MEMORIALS
SCHEDULED BECAUSE
OF THE CORONAVIRUS,
ONLY VIRTUAL
CEREMOMIES AND
EVENTS.
YOU CAN FIND THAT
LIST OVER ON WAVY-
DOT-COM.
(ANITA)
COMING UP, WHAT TO
TELL YOUR CHILDREN.
I'LL HAVE ADVICE FROM
AN EXPERT AT CHKD ON
HOW TO TALK TO KIDS
ABOUT THE TRAGEDY IN
VIRGINIA BEACH, AS 1-
YEAR LOOK-BACK
CONTINUES.
(TOM)
PLUS, A LOOK
THROUGH THE LENS OF
A STILL CAMERA, AS WE
REMEMBER THE
TRAGEDY IN VIRGINIA
BEACH, 1 YEAR AGO
TODAY.
WE'RE BACK IN JUST 1
YOU WHO HAVE
CHILDREN IN YOUR
CARE WERE ALREADY
DEALING WITH A LOT
BEFORE TODAY'S
ANNIVERSARY OF THE
VIRGINIA BEACH MASS
SHOOTING.
THAT'S WHY I SPOKE
WITH A CHILD AND
ADOLESCENT
PSYCHIATRIST TO GIVE
YOU SOME ADVICE
WORKING THROUGH
THIS AS A FAMILY
DURING SUCH A
STRESSFUL TIME.
(SONG INTRO)
IN THE YEAR THAT'S
FOLLOWED VIRGINIA
BEACH'S DARKEST DAY,
THE MASSIVE
MEMORIALS HAVE
MOVED FROM
SIDEWALKS AND PEWS.
BUT A COMMUNITY
CONTINUES TO MOURN
AND HEAL.
DR. GLEASON
WE WOULD EXPECT
THE ANNIVERSARY WILL
BRING UP DIFFICULT
AND STRONG FEELINGS
THIS YEAR WE WANT TO
THINK EVERYONE WILL
BE IN A POSITION TO
HAVE BIGGER OR
STRONGER FEELINGS
THAN THEY MIGHT HAVE
WITHOUT COVID
INCLUDING KIDS,
COPING WITH A
CHANGING WORLD. I
SPOKE WITH DR. MARY
MARGARET GLEASON,
VICE CHIEF OF THE
CHKD MENTAL HEALTH
PROGRAM ABOUT HOW
TO HELP THEM MARK
THE ANNIVERSARY OF
AN INCOMPREHENSIBLE
TRAGEDY IN THE MIDST
OF AN
UNPRECEDENTED
HEALTH CRISIS.
"BEING PHYSICALLY
SEPARATE
SHOULDN"T MEAN
WE DON"T MARK
THIS AS A COMMUNITY
ESPECIALLY FOR THE
PEOPLE WHO FEEL
MOVED TO DO SO
WITHIN FAMILIES YOU
CAN MAKE YOUR OWN
RITUALS LIGHTING A
CANDLE TOGETHER
PRAYERS SPENDING
TIME OUTSIDE MAYBE
CREATING A SIGN OR A
WREATH"
SHE SAYS JUST DON'T
AVOID THE TOPIC.
JEWEL CHERRY,
PARENT
RAS MUCH AS I
WANT TO MINIMIZE HIS
EXPOSURE HE WAS
DRAWN TO IT BECAUSE
IT WAS ON THE NEWS
CHILDREN MAY STILL
HAVE QUESTIONS LIKE
JEWEL CHERRY'S 11
YEAR OLD SON, MJ.
RWHAT WOULD
MAKE SOMEONE SO
ANGRY THAT HE WOULD
GO IN AND HURT
PEOPLE THAT HE
WORKED WITH EVERY
DAY THIS WAS NO
RANDOM SHOOTING
LET THEM KNOW THAT
HAVING MEMORIES AND
FEELINGS IS HEALTHY.
RTHEY MAY SEE
MORE MOOD CHANGES
THEY MAY SEE
IRRITABILITY AND
ANXIETY CHILDREN
NEEDING
REASSURANCE ABOUT
THEIR OWN SAFETY
THEY MAY SEE
CHANGES IN SLEEP OR
EATING
THIS IS STILL FRESH.
GIVE THEM SPACE BUT
LET THEM KNOW THAT
IT'S OK TO TALK AND
NOT TO LIVE IN FEAR.
"THERE WILL BE
DISCUSSIONS
MEMORIES COMING
BACK FOR SOME OF
THEM SO ONE OF THE
FIRST THINGS TO
REMIND CHILDREN IS
ABOUT HOW RARE
THESE THINGS ARE
THEY ARE INCREDIBLY
POWERFUL AND TRAGIC
BUT ALSO THEY
DON"T HAPPEN
OFTEN
CERTAINLY WE ALL
HOPE IT NEVER
HAPPENS AGAIN HERE.
(SONG END)
(ANITA)
DR. GLEASON SAYS IF
YOU OR YOUR CHILD
EXPERIENCE A
RESURGENCE OF
EMOTIONS FOR MORE
THAN A FEW DAYS, IF
THERE ARE ANY
THOUGHTS OF SELF-
HARM OR HURTING
SOMEONE ELSE, IT'S
TIME TO REACH OUT
FOR HELP.
YOU'LL FIND LINKS TO
USEFUL RESOURCES
UNDER THIS STORY ON
WAVY-DOT-COM
(TOM)
AS JOURNALISTS, WE
OFTEN VIEW TRAGEDY
FROM AN EMOTIONAL
DISTANCE.
IT IS REQUIRED FOR
FACT-BASED
REPORTING.
BUT THE VIRGINIA
BEACH SHOOTINGS
TOUCHED ALL OF US AT
WAVY-TV 10.
SO IN THE DAYS THAT
FOLLOWED, I PICKED
UP MY CAMERA, AND
SPENT SOME TIME
ALONE, WITH YOU.
MUSIC
IT WAS A TERRIBLE DAY.
THE PURE WEIGHT OF
THOSE WORDS MADE
ME REACH FOR THE
CAMERA.
(CAMERA SHUTTER)
BECAUSE
PHOTOGRAPHS FREEZE
MOMENTS FOREVER.
IT WAS EXACTLY 8 DAYS
AFTER THE ROUTINE OF
CITY BUSINESS ON A
LATE LAZY FRIDAY
AFTERNOON PIVOTED
TO TERROR,
AND YOU'RE LOOKING
AT THE HUMAN
REACTION, FROM THIS
HUMID SATURDAY
MORNING AT THE
MUNICIPAL CENTER.
THE PHOTOS TRIGGER
EMOTIONS THAT STILL
FLOOD THE MIND AND
HEART A YEAR AFTER I
CAPTURED THESE
SOULFUL EXPRESSIONS
OF SORROW.
THE AIR WAS HEAVY
AND DAMP, AS IF GOD
WERE STILL WIPING
OUR COLLECTIVE
TEARS.
THESE FACES.
THE EYES SPOKE
LOUDLY OF THE
WEIGHT THAT
DESCENDED ON
VIRGINIA BEACH.
I DIDN'T TALK TO
ANYONE THAT
MORNING. I JUST
WANTED TO SEE. I
KNEW IT WAS RIGHT TO
GRIEVE.
EVEN THERAPY DOGS
LOOKED
OVERWHELMED.
OH THE IRONY, FOR
HUMAN HANDS
APPEARED TO
CONSOLE THEIR
TROUBLED SPIRITS.
I ALSO NOTICED A
LONGING FOR
CONNECTION
BOWED HEADS PRAYED
FOR THE LORD TO HEAL
BROKEN HEARTS, AND
THAT HEALING
CONTINUES ONE YEAR
LATER.
(TOM)
THOSE IMAGES HAUNT.
I COULD ONLY SPEND
ABOUT 30 MINUTES AT
THAT MEMORIAL SITE
BEFORE LEAVING WITH
THOSE PHOTOS, MANY
OF WHICH I HAVEN'T
VIEWED UNTIL I
DECIDED TO SHARE
THEM WITH YOU
LOOKING AT THEM
NOW, IS NO LESS
POWERFUL THAN ON
THAT RAINY SATURDAY.
THEY REMIND US OF
WHAT WE LOST, AND
WHY WE NEED TO
VALUE EVERY MOMENT
WE HAVE TOGETHER.
ANITA,
(ANITA)
WE WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR WATCHING
OUR TRIBUTE TO THE
VICTIMS: 1 YEAR AFTER
THE TRAGEDY IN
VIRGINIA BEACH.
IT WAS A MOMENT THAT
CHANGED OUR
COMMUNITY FOREVER.
MAYOR BOBBY DYER
CALLED IT THE MOST
DEVASTATING DAY IN
CITY HISTORY.
(TOM)
WE LEAVE YOU NOW
WITH ANOTHER LOOK
AT THE 12 LIVES LOST.
THE MEN AND WOMEN
WHO LEFT US TOO
SOON.
WE ARE STILL HEALING,
BUT WE WILL GET
THROUGH THIS.
THAT'S WHY WE
ADOPTED THE MOTTO,
VIRGINIA BEACH
STRONG.
