DENVER-based Fox News reporter Alicia Acuna is overcome with emotion while on the air after witnessing her son emerge from his school where two deans were shot on Wednesday morning.
The emotional moment was captured as the senior correspondent was covering the East High School shooting.
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Fox News reporter Alicia Acuna embraced her son after the shooting at East High SchoolCredit: Fox News
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A juvenile student at East High School shot two deansCredit: AP
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Alicia Acuna joined FOX News Channel in 1997Credit: Fox News
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Parents reunited with their kids following Wednesday’s shootingCredit: AP
“Sanda, that is so encouraging to hear as a parent,” Acuna is heard communicating to Fox News’ John Roberts and Sandra Smith as she suddenly interrupts her reporting after seeing her son.
“Excuse me – my son just came up, and I have not seen him. Come, come up here,” she tells her son.
“I’m sorry, I have not seen my kid since this all went down,” Acuna says as her cameraman cuts from the background of students gathered outside East High School to that of the mother embracing her son with a hug.
“I’m just finishing this real quick, OK?” she told her son. “OK. All right. OK. You good?”
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“I’m so sorry, there’s no way you would’ve let your kid walk by. So, okay, okay… he’s okay… he’s good,” she says as her voice began to crack.
Acuna then explains how she had been communicating with her son about the scene from inside the school.
Gunfire erupted at around 9.50am at East High School, where police swiftly issued lockdown orders and set up a perimeter on campus.
The Denver Police Department are currently searching for the suspect, who has been identified as 17-year-old Austin Lyle.Killing Me Softly singer Roberta Flack dead at 88
Lyle is wanted for charges of attempted homicide.
Authorities believe Lyle fled the scene immediately after the shooting.
A search warrant has since been executed at Lyle’s home, Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said.
Chief Thomas revealed that the 17-year-old suspect had a “safety plan in place” where he had to be searched at the beginning of every school day.
School officials never found a weapon on Lyle in previous searches, Thomas said.
The two victims, who have been identified as Jerald Mason and Eric Sinclair, were transported to Denver Health Medical.
Both remain in serious condition, Denver Health officials revealed.
“This school has gone through a tremendous time over the last year or so,” Chief Thomas said about East High School.
Denver Mayor Michael Handcock said paramedics also treated a student who had a “visceral reaction to the tension of the moment.”
He added that paramedics were already in the building at the time of the shooting, allowing them to provide treatment immediately.
“That I think will play a huge role in their ultimate recovery from this and we’ll keep them in our prayers. We want to thank our first responders,” he said.
Superintendent Alex Marrero said that East High School will remain closed for the rest of the week.
Marrero informed parents and faculty that two armed officers will be posted at the school for the remainder of the academic year.
The shooting comes over a month after student Luis Garcia was gunned down outside of East High School on February 13.
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Two juveniles were arrested in that shooting but have not been charged, and police have not released a motive.
The devastating shooting led community members to place more pressure on their state legislators.
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Law enforcement, including members of the ATF, investigated the scene
