‘I Can’t Believe This Is Happening’: Neighbors Help Parents Find Kids, Console Students After Choctaw Shooting

It was chaos not only at the stadium, but for the people who live right behind the stadium. Some were even woken up by the sounds of sirens and screaming.

Neighbors said when the shooting happened kids jumped the fence at the stadium and ran through a wooded area. They said kids started banging on their doors asking for help.

Tim Jenne said the streets of his quiet neighborhood were filled with panic Friday night.

“There was kids with no shoes on, one kid had one shoe on, there was another kid without a shirt on he was all cut up, his hands and stuff,” Jenne said.

Three people were shot at a Del City-Choctaw game at Bill Jensen Field, and one was 16-year-old Cordea Carter, a student at Midwest City High School. 

“I was in disbelief. The whole night we kept saying to each other, ‘I can't believe this is happening.’ Jenne said.

Jenne said a lot of neighbors were outside helping parents find their kids and consoling students.

“When everything calmed down, we took some of the kids back up to meet up with their families and friends and stuff like that,” Jenne said.

“It shouldn't happen, and these kids shouldn't have to live through this. It's not fair to them. They're not growing up with the innocence that they need to grow up with. It's becoming the norm,” Debra Coleman said.

Coleman said Choctaw High might be in the backyard, but their support stretches to all those impacted.

“We need to step up and try and comfort them and try and show them that they're not alone because we are a community,” Coleman said.

Neighbors worry about the impact this will have on students.

“All these kids are now being trained on what to do with an active shooter. Man, I can't imagine growing up in a world like that,” Coleman said.

“High school is such a great time in their life. I really hope these kids are able to continue to step forward and continue with their activities,” Jenne said.