Brown shooting update: Students from Chicago return home after deadly mass shooting at Brown University
Brown University students from Chicago arrived home on Sunday night after finals were canceled following Saturday's deadly mass shooting.
The students and their parents spoke with ABC7 at Chicago Midway International Airport, recalling the terrifying moments they experienced until authorities announced they had someone in custody .
It is a bittersweet return home for the holidays for the Cavallo siblings.
Natalie, her sister, and her brother, all Brown University students, reunited with their parents, who are also Brown alums, on Sunday.
Two of Natalie's best friends were inside the building where the shooting took place when gunfire first erupted.
Brown Club of Chicago Co-President Giovanna Cavallo is grateful that her three children are safe at home. She told ABC7 that two of her kids, who are engineering students, would spend most of their time in that building.
"They're there all the time. They just happen to not be there yesterday," she said.
Video captured the terrifying moments when students were placed on lockdown, many hiding in classrooms or sheltering under desks after a gunman opened fired as final exams were taking place.
Giovanna texted with her children minutes after shots were fired.
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"The last thing any parent ever wants to see," she said. "And just so devastating for the parents whose kids won't be coming home."
That lockdown was lifted early Sunday morning after authorities announced they had detained a person of interest. Sources told ABC News he is a man in his 20s from Wisconsin.
The Brown community is in mourning as Chicago-area alums mobilize to offer whatever support they can to their alma mater.
"We've had an outpouring of messages and support from our alum, you know, asking us what they can do to help, how they can support what's happening on campus and the students and the families there," said Brown Club of Chicago Co-President Grisel Maldonado.
So far, no charges have been filed, and no motive has been released by authorities.
