After shootings, many reached out

April 5, 2001

Cold bottled water. Homemade snickerdoodles. Soothing hugs. Cell phones. In the wake of two East County high school shootings, comfort came in all forms.

One month ago today, Santana High School in Santee became ground zero in campus violence. Granite Hills High School in El Cajon erupted 17 days later. In all, two students died and 23 people were injured. The suspects in both shootings were students arrested immediately after the shootings.

Just as quickly, parents, neighbors, strangers and the community at large jumped in and performed random acts of kindness that were spontaneous and, in many instances, anonymous.

"We didn't have time to think," said one business owner. "We just did what we had to do."

Here are just a few of the many ways people reached out to help in those early hours and days:

  After making sure her three daughters were safe, Beth Wilson bought bottled water and handed it out to students, parents and teachers evacuated from Santana High School.

  Employees from the Albertson's in Santee gave out fresh fruit, and they offered their cell phones to frantic parents and students who had converged in the supermarket parking lot.

  Del Taco, one of several businesses across the street from Santana, opened its doors to crisis counselors, and it quickly became a headquarters for parents to learn the fate of their children.

  Students nibbled on free pizzas at Round Table while they waited for their parents. Within minutes, the Santee restaurant became a makeshift shelter. Owners closed it down so police could use the restaurant as a staging area to conduct interviews.

  Memorials popped up and flourished at both high schools after the shootings.

  Students at Granite Hills brought bouquets of flowers to their classes. "They're for my teacher," one student said. "Because my teacher protected us."

  Eric Edwards and Daniel Church, friends of Santana victim Bryan Zuckor, designed a memorial Web site in honor of their fallen classmate. The address: www.geocities.com/
stuntsrus2001/index.html.

  Sonrise Community Church in Santee was transformed into a community center and retreat for grief counseling, memorial services and volunteer information. Crockpots overflowed with homemade rice and meat dishes. The aroma of fresh-baked bread and cakes filled the church.

  Off-duty nurse Judy Davis greeted people at United Methodist Church in Santee. She hugged those grieving and guided them to support services at the church.

  Local pastors and certified counselors donated their time, including Dr. Robert Bray, nationally recognized for his work in children's psychotherapy.

  Students and counselors from Columbine High School in Colorado poured into Santee to give support and empathy.

  The East County Boys and Girls Club in El Cajon opened its doors for grief counseling for Granite Hills students and parents.

  Sandwiched between the two campus shootings, the Watts Prophets came down from Los Angeles to hold a performance-art workshop at El Cajon Valley High School about the power of words. The three-man group has been speaking to youth around the country for more than 30 years.

Prophet member Otis O'Solomon could have been speaking for many when he said: "We were willing to make any contribution to get these young people through this painful challenge."