NBC5’s Matt Jordan was one of the first reporters on the scene that fateful day when the 26-year-old gunman took 9 innocent lives before turning the gun on himself.
He tells us his personal story of how the events unfolded on the campus of Umpqua Community College, October 1st, 2015.
I was on my way to Grants Pass for a different story when right around 10:45am or so my phone starting buzzing.
I’m trying to drive safely but I had to glance and as soon as I saw the headlines i knew I’d be heading to Roseburg, and fast.
I made my way to the evacuation site at the Douglas County fairgrounds, at that point the shooting was over, the school was locked down but the evacuations continued
Crowds of family and friends waiting, embracing each bus unloading terrified students, staff and even toddlers from the school’s day care center.
“This is never an experience that anybody should have to go through, I’m just happy that she was here,” said UCC Student Kayleen Holm.
That’s where I met Holm and her mom Becky. Kayleen was one of those evacuees.
“I told here to let me know as soon as I was able to come to her, and it was… it was very relieving to finally have her back in my arms,” said Becky Holm.
Others never had that reunion, it’s a moment that will always stick with me. The last bus dropping off a small handful of staff, a family just on the other side of the path, realizing the person they were waiting for wouldn’t be coming home.
“And I particularly want you to keep the families in your prayers,” said Roseburg City Manager Lance Colley
In the following days something amazing happened. The community came together in a way I’ve never seen.
“There’s so many people that are affected because they know relatives, someone pretty much all tied in with the 9 that were killed, everybody is here to support our community,” said Terry Mooney a rally organizer.
Despite everything, I saw the greatest in people, reaching out to help each other, offering everything they had to comfort their neighbors.
“The pain here is something that I don’t want them to go through alone, to let them know they will not go through this alone,” said Father Ken Sampson.
I still talk to people i met that day, people i consider friends now.
It hasn’t magically gotten easier to think about. But seeing how the community came together after that day… I know they won’t let fear get in the way of living their lives.
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