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Dozens of family members sat in their cars along the perimeter of the school, where they remained until the students were freed. Others huddled under umbrellas, trying to catch a glimpse of what was going on inside. The mother of a 19-year-old student, who preferred to remain anonymous, said she became aware of the shooting because her daughter texted her saying something dangerous. “Now, I’m fine, before I was very sad, I was praying a lot because we don’t know what’s going on. Now, (my daughter) said: “I’m fine.” in the auditorium. “We just want him out so we can go home,” the aunt had said. Reda Yacoubi had received a text message from his 18-year-old daughter shortly after 6pm, warning that there had been shots fired and that CEGEP was on lockdown. Yacoubi rushed to the school only to find the area cordoned off by police and surrounded by other concerned parents. “The police told us that the students were all locked in classrooms to secure the perimeter. “, Yacoubi said Friday night, adding that he believes at least one of the shooting victims sought refuge inside the school.” (The students) didn’t know what was going on. I guess they heard the shots, not sure. But it was total panic in CEGEP,” Yacoubi added. “At first, we thought it happened inside CEGEP, but then we found out it happened next door.” At the location, Yacoubi said he spoke with another father whose young daughters were there for swim lessons Friday night. They were also locked inside the school, he said. “It’s scary,” Yacoubi said, adding that an apparent gunshot was also heard near his youngest daughter’s high school earlier this week. “It’s getting really worrying.” Besara said despite the recent gun violence in Laval, she wants to reassure citizens that the area is still safe. The investigation continues. As for the students who were locked out for hours, they were “shaken but still standing,” Lena said. The Montreal Gazette’s Jesse Faith contributed to this report.
