“Parkland Students Face Heartbreak Again: Surviving Their Second Tragic School Shooting in Just 7 Years” | CNN

On a day that should have felt normal, chaos erupted at Florida State University when a shooting occurred. Ilana Badiner, a senior at FSU, found herself hiding in the bowling alley, recalling her experience during the tragic Parkland shooting in 2018 when she was just an eighth grader. It was a painful reminder; she’d gone through this before.

That day, Badiner was taking a bowling class when students began to flee, leaving their bags behind in the panic. The noise from the bowling alley masked the sound of gunfire, but instinct kicked in. “I knew something was wrong,” she said. In those moments, she and her instructor, Stephanie Horowitz—who survived the Parkland shooting—led a group to safety.

The aftermath was harrowing. Two people lost their lives, and six others were injured in this latest tragedy, marking yet another mass shooting in a country grappling with gun violence statistics. According to the Gun Violence Archive, the shooting was the sixth of the year in Florida and part of a staggering tally of 81 mass shootings nationwide in 2025.

For many students, this event reignited old fears. Brianna Jade Freedland, also a survivor of the Parkland shooting, experienced a wave of anxiety when she heard the phrase "active shooter" and rushed to hide in a locker room with about 125 other people. Students around her were shaking, crying, and even texting their families. “I just remember feeling scared for my life,” she recalled.

The emotional toll was significant. Freedland, who had already survived one shooting, felt the weight of past trauma all over again. “No one should ever have to experience this kind of fear once, let alone twice,” she said.

Social media buzzed with reactions. Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter Jaime died in the Parkland shooting, shared his anguish online. “America is broken,” he expressed, highlighting that many survivors from Parkland now faced trauma anew. His sentiment resonated with others like Josh Gallagher, another survivor, who described the shock of a second proximity to gun violence.

In the moments of hiding, they shared stories of their past experiences. Badiner couldn’t shake off the memories of her classmates huddled in a classroom while waiting for safety, now revisited in a different setting. As details of the shooting emerged, the sense of dread grew.

When law enforcement finally evacuated students, Badiner witnessed the terrifying reality of gun violence: injured victims on the ground. It was a stark reminder that safety in places where young people gather can be a fleeting illusion.

After these traumatic events, both Badiner and Freedland expressed frustration about the cycle of violence. “I definitely think there are things that could be changed,” Badiner noted. As they moved forward, grappling with fear and uncertainty, they began to consider the pressing need for change in gun laws and community safety measures.

The impact of such tragedies runs deep. Even as they try to heal, the scars remain. Survivors attending vigils and speaking out advocate not only for memories of the lost but also for a safer future. The discussions surrounding gun control continue, as communities and individuals find ways to protect their loved ones from becoming victims again.

For more information about gun violence statistics in America, visit the Gun Violence Archive.

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