College Student, 20, Survived Brown University Tragedy, Years After Parkland High School Mass Shooting: ‘I’m Really Angry’

College Student Survives Brown University Tragedy Following Parkland High School Shooting

A college sophomore, Zoe Weissman, recently found herself at the center of a horrifying event at Brown University. This was not the first time she had faced such tragedy, as she had previously been a student at Parkland High School during the mass shooting in Florida back in 2018. At the Rhode Island-based college on December 13, a gunman opened fire, resulting in the deaths of at least two individuals and injuries to nine others. The incident left the community in shock, with one person of interest currently in custody.

Years before the Brown University tragedy, Weissman had experienced the horrors of the Parkland High School mass shooting where 17 individuals lost their lives, and 18 others were injured by the gunman, Nikolas Cruz. Cruz has since been sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Recalling her emotions after surviving two school shootings, Weissman expressed her deep anger and shock at facing such terrifying situations once again. The psychological impact of the events has taken her back to a place of fear and vulnerability, reminiscent of her experiences in 2018.

The Ivy League institution, Brown University, was swift to respond to the shooting, notifying the community of an active shooter near a campus building. University President Christina H. Paxson described the tragic incident as something no university community could ever prepare for. In the aftermath, it was reported that one person was in critical condition, six were in critical but stable condition, and two had been stabilized. The broader community, including Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, addressed the media to provide updates on the situation at the university.

Weissman shared that despite the traumatic events, students were in the midst of final exams as the semester drew to a close. The immediate response to the shooting included a shelter-in-place order, which has since been lifted as normalcy begins to return to the campus. Reflecting on her ordeal, Weissman noted that surviving multiple school shootings is not an isolated experience, citing examples of others who have faced similar challenges. Her comments shed light on the growing concern around security in educational institutions and the impact such incidents have on students’ mental well-being.

As investigations into the Brown University shooting continue, the identities of the victims and the injured have not been disclosed to the public. The broader conversation surrounding gun violence, campus security, and the psychological toll on survivors remains at the forefront of national discourse. Weissman’s journey from Parkland High School to Brown University serves as a poignant reminder of the need for proactive measures to prevent such tragedies and support those affected by them. In the face of adversity, her resilience and courage stand as a beacon of hope for a future free from the horrors of gun violence in educational settings.

With each incident of gun violence, the urgency to address underlying issues and enact meaningful change grows. Students like Weissman serve as living testaments to the need for collective action in creating safer environments for learning and growth. As the community at Brown University comes to terms with the recent tragedy, the echoes of past shootings serve as a stark reminder of the work that lies ahead in safeguarding educational spaces for the generations to come.