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Eye on the World: citizen ‘hero’ convinces potential school shooter to surrender
Last week in Dekalb County, Georgia, a school shooting was averted when school bookkeeper Antoinette Tuff spent time talking to a gunman. The 20-year-old gunman had an arsenal of weapons, appeared agitated, began shooting at police, and said he wanted to die. What makes this story remarkable is not only Ms. Tuff’s calm poise, but her reliance on prayer. Her ability to compassionately communicate with the young man, sharing some of her own struggles and courageously challenging the shooter’s distressed “I want to die” mentality, diffused a volatile situation and halted a potential crime. The man eventually surrendered to police without harming anyone.
In an interview with NPR, Ms. Tuff discussed the situation and also, briefly, her faith. She gives glory to God for giving her strength, and talks about learning “anchoring” in the Lord through her own tough times. This article from the Christian Science Monitor, “‘Tuff love’ triumphs, Georgia school tragedy averted,” explores what happened from a spiritual perspective. The author points out that this incident shows how goodness cannot be silenced, and how spiritual inspiration can dissolve even the most frightening presentations of evil.
Below are a few articles you might enjoy. We offer them to second the assertion that God’s wisdom brings healing light, both in unusually challenging situations, and in daily encounters:
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