High School Students Express Support for Shooting Victim

from CBS Baltimore by Derek Valcourt:
A violent start to the school year in Perry Hall after a student opens fire in the cafeteria.
Derek Valcourt has more on how the students are coping the day after the shooting.
Several hundred students and parents gathered around the flagpole at Perry Hall High School before the start of morning classes for a student organized prayer vigil in honor of the victim, 17-year-old Daniel Borowy.
“I would rather it happened to me than him,” said Kayla Finn.
“I’m praying for him and his family and hoping that he can recover soon and be back to the Daniel that I know he can be,” said Kirsten Elasser.
Some student wore T-shirts in honor of the guidance counselor credited with stopping the gunman.


from CBS Baltimore by Meghan McCorkell:
Seventeen-year-old Daniel Borowy remains in critical condition at Shock Trauma. His school community came together Tuesday to pray for him. Meghan McCorkell has more.
On the first day of school after the shooting, students gathered around the flagpole to reflect on one of their own who’s not here.
“He’s an innocent kid and it could have happened to anyone,” said freshman Kayla Finn.
Borowy was shot in the back when a fellow student opened fire in the crowded cafeteria.
His family released a statement saying, “On Monday, August 27, 2012, our son, Daniel was critically injured on his first day of school. We would like to personally thank school personnel who quickly responded, getting Daniel to safety.”
Just steps from the driveway of the high school is a sign urging the community to pray for Daniel. Many students like Michael Haley are openly showing their concern. Borowy lives right down the street from him.
“He always comes around and he always has a smile on his face,” Haley said.
“He just has an amazing personality. He’s just one of a kind,” said Kristen Elsasser.
Amidst heavy police presence, school officials held classes to bring the students back together.
“Our students have been very eager to talk to their teachers and now rallying around the victim and rallying around the community to help in any way they can,” said Perry Hall High School Principal George Roberts.
That sense of community is helping everyone there heal in the wake of this tragedy.
A Facebook page calling for prayers for Daniel Borowy continues to grow, with support coming in from all over the world.
Perry Hall plans to hold a community meeting sometime next week so students and parents can come together to talk about the shooting.