Round Rock shooting survivors seek trauma support services

Lina Portman2 weeks ago

0 2 minutes read

Juneteenth celebrations in the Austin area were dampened earlier this year with news of a mass shooting at a Saturday night celebration in Round Rock.

The shooting left two people dead and 14 injured after bullets from an altercation hit bystanders. On Wednesday, community organizations Life Anew and Harvest Trauma Recovery Center hosted a “healing event” intended to help survivors of the shooting, community members who knew the victims and others affected by the violence begin to accept the new.

Previously: Victims of June 19 Round Rock shooting identified as residents of Pflugerville, Manor

During the event, counselors spoke to small groups of attendees about their reactions to the shooting. Life Anew counselor Stephanie Richardson offered some explanations about trauma and emotional reactions to violence.

“You’re going to feel angry. You’re going to feel guilty, and with guilt comes shame,” Richardson told the group. “Part of trauma is your brain telling you what you could do to avoid this. And part of that process of healing from trauma is telling yourself that you did what you could.”

During the session, survivors of Saturday's shooting expressed guilt for not being able to help the injured around them. Those who knew the survivors found themselves confronted with contrasting emotions. On the one hand, they were grateful to those they knew for surviving. On the other hand, they were angered by the perpetrator's actions.

Many people present Wednesday also spoke of their delayed reaction to the scale of the shooting. A few said they had to wait until the work week began to think about what they saw or heard Saturday. This too inspired guilt.

Richardson told his group that this is normal and that it is important for everyone to feel justified in their pain, regardless of their proximity to violence.

Between tears, some attendants nodded their heads.

The hope, Richardson said after the event, was that the session would provide those affected “with the information needed to define their trauma” and a space to share their emotions and experiences with others who were suffering.

Michael Lofton, CEO of the parent organization that oversees the trauma recovery center, said the event also aimed to introduce these community members to the longer-term services available at Harvest TRC. Since opening last November in Windsor Park with support from the city and county, the center has provided therapeutic services and economic support to victims of violence.

Previously: Austin opened its first trauma recovery center in Texas last November. What does it do?

Kimberly Holiday, a Pflugerville City Council member who also works as a case manager at Harvest TRC, said the center has seen “a steady stream” of people affected by the Round Rock shooting stopping to talk to a therapist.

“Monday morning, at 8:30, we already had people,” Holiday said.

Many signed up for additional sessions, she said. Under the CRT model, people affected by violence can access up to 16 therapy appointments.

Holiday said introducing these services would help ensure residents “ask for help” and “don't get stuck,” a necessary step for a community to get back to daily life and start thinking about how to ameliorate future violence. .

Lina Portman

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