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As the new school year begins, Americans are reeling from another tragic school shooting. On August 27, two young students were killed and 17 people were injured when gunfire erupted at a Minneapolis Catholic church during a back-to-school mass.
While students and staff who were in the church at the time share their stories, one young survivor has captured the hearts of thousands online with his incredible courage and faith. In an interview with TODAY, eighth-grader Javen Willis shared his experience and explained that his first reaction was to look out for his friends when he realized they were in danger.
“Honestly, it was just at that point, I was like, I want to try to keep everybody as safe as possible. So I told me and my two buddies to get down and to get under the pew. And right when I told them that, it was like a state of shock for me, and I knew that I had to try to keep as many people around me as I could safe,” he said.
Willis, who was recently baptized, said he leaned on his faith, praying until he and his friends were safe.
“I said my few prayers, and then I realized, like, I can’t just sit here and focus on myself, knowing that with God on my side, I will be fine,” he added.
Viewers were touched by Willis’ caring nature as he put his arm around his mother, as she got emotional, sharing how grateful she was to know her child was safe.
“The way he comforts his mother is so heart warming . Young King is truly an angel sent 🙏🏽,” wrote someone on Instagram.
During the interview, TODAY co-anchor Craig Melvin, who is also a father of young children, was also visibly affected by the story. He shared his thoughts in an August 28 post on X.
“I am still shaken after hearing 8th grader Javen Willis share how he protected and prayed for his friends during the Minneapolis shooting that took two young lives during a Back-To-School mass at Annunciation Church,” Melvin wrote after the interview.
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