While the sidewalks would normally be busy with students lugging their packs around, either getting ready to turn this week’s term paper or getting ready for midterms, today was not business as usual. Today, the streets are filled with news vans and journalists across the country to get the story of this shell-shocked university town’s tragedy.
A few students and other people pay their respects to five students whose futures were cut short by a gunman who opened fire in a lecture hall Thursday afternoon, Feb. 14.
“She could always turn a bad situation into a good one,” said Kevin Stone, 19, who was one of those people paying respects and was a high school friend of Ryanne Mace, 19. Mace was one of the victims of the shooting. Stone, who went to Dundee Crown H.S. in Carpentersville, IL with Mace, explained, “she always had a smile on her face.”
Stone talked about how at times she would run around the band room at Dundee Crown to prep up the band before a game or performance.
“She would always be there for her friends,” Stone said. He did not speak with her family, but did express condolences for them.
Stone explained she would always take part in school spirit in sporting events, either working with the booster club raising money or playing in the pep band.
“She was one of the nicest people you’ve ever met,” Stone concluded.