Students from Chicago attending Brown University made their way back home on Sunday night after the tragic event of a mass shooting led to the cancellation of their finals.
Upon their arrival at Chicago Midway International Airport, the students and their parents shared their harrowing experiences with ABC7.
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The Cavallo siblings returned home for the holidays, a mix of relief and sadness accompanying their journey.
Natalie Cavallo, along with her sister and brother, all of whom are studying at Brown, were greeted by their parents, both alumni of the university, upon their return on Sunday.
Two of Natalie’s closest friends were caught in the frightening moments inside the building when the shooting began.
Giovanna Cavallo, co-president of the Brown Club of Chicago, expressed her relief at having her three children safe at home. She mentioned to ABC7 that her two children, who pursue engineering, typically spend a lot of time in the very building where the incident occurred.
“They’re there all the time. They just happen to not be there yesterday,” she said.
Video captured the terrifying moments when students were placed on lockdown, many hiding in classrooms or sheltering under desks after a gunman opened fired as final exams were taking place.
Giovanna texted with her children minutes after shots were fired.
“The last thing any parent ever wants to see,” she said. “And just so devastating for the parents whose kids won’t be coming home.”
That lockdown was lifted early Sunday morning after authorities announced they had detained a person of interest. Late Sunday night, officials said they will release that person.
The Brown community is in mourning as Chicago-area alums mobilize to offer whatever support they can to their alma mater.
“We’ve had an outpouring of messages and support from our alum, you know, asking us what they can do to help, how they can support what’s happening on campus and the students and the families there,” said Brown Club of Chicago Co-President Grisel Maldonado.
So far, no charges have been filed, and no motive has been released by authorities.
