The Central Visual and Performing Arts High School with approximately 380 students and the College Eight School of Medicine and Bioscience with approximately 260 students are magnet high schools. Performing arts schools with a predominantly black student population require students to audition before being admitted.
Fifteen-year-old Jaway Bronner is walking from the bathroom back to art class when the intercom announces “Miles Davis.” The teacher led him and about 20 other students into the closet.
“We all think this is a drill,” said Jawae. Once in the closet, Jaway texted his family to let them know he was safe. Some of his classmates started panicking, he said. Gunshots were heard nearby, but they continued to wait.
“I felt empty, I felt really empty, I had no feelings,” he said. “I was ready to die.”
While in the closet, Jawae read a Bible verse from his mobile phone, John 3:16.
“If this is my time to go, then this is my time to go,” he said. He even thought of knitting blankets together to make a rope that could be hung from a window.
Eventually, the police banged on the door and escorted Jawaye and his classmates to safety.
Jenna Fisher Reported from St. Louis, Remy Tumin from New York, Johnny Diaz from Miami and Julie Bosman Originally from Chicago. Jim Tankersley Contributed to reporting from Washington. Kirsten Noyce When Kitty Bennett Contributed to research.