Roosevelt grad 'shocked' after commencement shooting

DES MOINES, Iowa — Seniors at Roosevelt High School were looking forward to a day dedicated to celebrating their academic achievements. Joy quickly turned to panic as students and staff noticed a crowd panicking and rushing out of the stands.

“I was on the ramp leading up to the stage,” said Philip Williams, a 2024 RHS graduate, “And then I turn around to look at the floor where everyone is sitting and I can see into the far stands , there's just a bunch of people moving in. They're all fleeing to the sides and we have no idea what's going on.

Williams was one of the last students to be called to receive his diploma. His years of hard work had to wait a few more minutes while Des Moines police officers brought the situation outside the Knapp Center under control.

The graduation stream shows Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts taking the podium and asking people to stop running from the seats; Roberts also asked all officers to respond to the rear section to address any issues that were occurring.

A few minutes later, Roberts was seen again on the stream, speaking to the crowd at the podium. “Thank you all for your response to what appears to be an incredibly disruptive incident, but let’s not let this ruin this elegant and memorable day. Let’s give up for those who stayed,” Roberts said.

Williams said the students had thought it might be severe weather, but after checking the weather radar they added to the confusion because there was no storm in the area .

“The first thing that comes to mind is: What happens if there is a shooting?,” Williams said. Graduation resumed when police arrested two men minutes after gunshots were heard outside the ceremony. Unfortunately for Williams, some family members had left during the uproar and they were unable to return to see him walk.

“And some of them couldn't get back to the building in time to see me walk through and receive my diploma, including my mother. So it really sucked,” Williams said.

A day dedicated to celebrating achievements and looking to the future allowed participants to focus on the past.

“It’s a really scary experience and a reminder of how, you know, something can happen out of nowhere. And sure, it ended up not being that bad, but yeah, it’s a scary reminder,” Williams said. And when it was time for him to receive his diploma that he had worked so hard for, he couldn't enjoy the moment. “I didn't pay attention at all to how people were cheering for me. I couldn't concentrate. I wasn't looking for my family in the crowd, just a little behind.