Survivors of two mass shootings in Colorado offer words of support to a man who survived the Boulder attack

Survivors of two mass shootings in Colorado offer words of support to a man who survived the Boulder attack

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It was, he says, a “surreal” experience.

“You really don’t expect to have to be in that kind of situation,” Kruesi told CNN’s Anderson Cooper late on Tuesday.
But across the state – and country – a long list of other Americans faced a similar experience: surviving a mass shootout. The state of Colorado alone has seen at least six mass shootings in recent years, according to previous CNN reports.
Frank DeAngelis, the former head of Columbine High School, also never expected to find himself in this situation. Twelve students and a teacher were killed at the school in Littleton on April 20, 1999, when two students opened fire.

He says he was back at school on Monday planning his 22nd birthday when he heard the news about the Boulder supermarket.

“It is almost denying to believe that it happened,” he said. “In Colorado … we have seen so many (shootings) … and now we are in a state of disbelief.”

“The most important thing in the future is that we are looking to help them (other survivors),” said DeAngelis. “I joined a club that nobody wants to be a member of, but when we tell people that we know what you’re feeling, we really experienced it and I think we could help, we are on a phone call to help this community.”

Advice to another survivor

Jansen Young survived the Aurora film shooting on July 20, 2012. Twelve people died and 70 were injured.

Appearing in the same segment on CNN, she told Kruesi that having a means of communication, such as the media, to share her experience, helped her to resist in the first days after the shooting.

“You don’t know, when you’re in a big mess of tragedy, you don’t know how much just talking about it helps,” she said. “So, I really commend Brian for telling his story today.”

20 years after Columbine, former director Frank DeAngelis is still learning how to move on

And over the years, Young said he found strength in sharing the names of the victims and knowing that they are remembered.

The path to healing will be a “marathon, not a race,” DeAngelis told Kruesi.

“The best advice I got 24 hours later (from the Columbine shooting),” said DeAngelis, “(yeah) if you don’t help yourself, you can’t help others.”

“There will be days, saying ‘Boy, everything is going well’ and then something triggers an emotion,” he said. “You need to find this support system for yourself.”

And that support system, says DeAngelis, includes the other survivors.

“I know Colorado and the people in Colorado, they will come together as one,” he said. “You have so many people to help you, Brian, and we are here to help you.”

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