Parkland survivor to shooter: 'You will not forget me'

Summary

Sam Fuentes confronts a school shooter in court, recounting the trauma and loss caused by the attack. Fuentes emphasizes the lasting impact on survivors, rejecting attempts to sympathize with the shooter and asserting the strength and resilience of the community.

Takeaways

• 👤 Sam Fuentes addresses the perpetrator, reminding him of their shared past in high school and the JROTC program.
• 🔫 The shooter was armed with an AR-15, decorated with swastikas, when he targeted Sam's Holocaust Studies class.
• 🗣️ Sam recounts being a child at the time of the incident and the traumatic experience of being shot and witnessing the murder of friends.
• 💔 Sam expresses the long-term emotional and psychological effects, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
• 🔫 The shooter's actions led to the deaths of three students by suicide, highlighting the profound impact of the event on the community.
• 🤬 Sam confronts the shooter with the reality of his actions, emphasizing the permanent nature of the trauma inflicted.
• 🚫 Sam refutes any notion of the shooter being a 'mentally ill adult,' asserting that his actions were calculated and driven by hate.
• 💔 Sam speaks to the lasting legacy of the victims and the survivors, who will carry the burden of this event for the rest of their lives.
• 🤬 There is a strong message of anger and refusal to forgive or forget the shooter's actions, emphasizing the depth of the emotional scars.
• 💪 Sam asserts personal and community strength, vowing not to succumb to the level of hatred and violence exhibited by the shooter.
• 🔗 Sam's closing statement ties together the themes of resilience, the enduring impact of the tragedy, and a personal promise to be remembered by the shooter.

Q & A

Who is Sam Fuentes?

Sam Fuentes is a survivor of a school shooting incident who shares her personal experience and confronts the perpetrator in a courtroom.

What was Sam Fuentes' relationship with the shooter before the incident?

Sam Fuentes and the shooter went to the same high school, knew each other's friends, and were both in the JROTC program.

What weapon did the shooter use in the incident?

The shooter used an AR-15 rifle with swastikas on it.

How did the shooter's actions affect Sam Fuentes physically?

Sam Fuentes was shot in the leg, which left her with scars and shrapnel lodged in her body.

What psychological impact did the incident have on Sam Fuentes?

Sam Fuentes suffers from PTSD, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideations as a result of the incident.

How many people were killed or injured in the incident according to Sam Fuentes?

A total of 34 people were killed or injured in the incident.

What additional tragedy resulted from the incident as mentioned by Sam Fuentes?

Three students committed suicide as a result of the trauma from the incident.

What does Sam Fuentes believe the shooter's motivation was?

Sam Fuentes believes the shooter was motivated by racism and a desire to incite violence, rather than mental illness.

How does Sam Fuentes describe the shooter's character in her speech?

Sam Fuentes describes the shooter as a hateful bigot with a God complex who is not mentally ill but rather a violent, entitled individual.

What message does Sam Fuentes convey about the community's resilience?

Sam Fuentes emphasizes that the community is stronger than the hate the shooter spread and will heal and grow despite the incident.

What does Sam Fuentes hope the shooter will remember about her?

Sam Fuentes hopes that the shooter will remember her face and the impact of his actions, and that this memory will cause him discomfort.