"They were all surrounding him, and I knew I could just breathe"
When police entered the office at the McNair Discovery Learning Center, the standoff was not over yet. The gunman was close enough to his weapons to possibly grab them. But Antoinette describes the moment she was able to finally "just breathe."
 |
Post by: Filed under: Antoinette Tuff |
"I was shaking–I had to go to the bathroom so bad"
Anderson's interview with Antoinette Tuff and Kendra McCray takes a lighter turn. Antoinette explains how even when bullets are flying, nature calls.
|
|
Post by: Filed under: Antoinette Tuff |
"It felt like I was there"
What was it like to be on the other end of the 911 call during the Georgia school shooting and standoff? Kendra McCray says she was there and she was about to "visualize what she [hero Antoinette Tuff] was seeing and what she was going through. That's thanks to some great teamwork. Kendra explained to Anderson "if I'm calm, she's calm."
|
|
Post by: Filed under: Antoinette Tuff |
"Push past the pain"
Antoinette Tuff shares the teachings she learned in her worship that helped her through the Georgia School standoff. She explains how she was able to "Push past the pain," and describes the most frightening moment of her ordeal and finding out the gunman had "bullets everywhere."
|
|
Post by: Filed under: Antoinette Tuff |
"I knew how he felt"
The gunman inside the McNair Discovery Learning Center was heavily armed, and packing 500 rounds of ammunition. Antoinette Tuff was armed with her heart, her empathy and her life experience. She explains to Anderson how tragedy in her life helped her break through to a would-be killer.
|
|
Post by: Filed under: 360° Radar • Antoinette Tuff |
Behind the Antoinette Tuff / Kendra McCray reunion
Everyone is talking about Antoinette Tuff and the stunning 911 call she made during the Georgia school standoff. For the first time, she met the woman who was on the other end of the line, 911 dispatcher Kendra McCray. Together they saved countless lives when a heavily-armed gunman barricaded himself inside the McNair Discovery Learning Center.
Tuff and McCray traveled to New York City and spoke to Anderson about how they helped stop the standoff from becoming a tragedy. Both said they were nervous, both said they hadn't slept the night before, and neither knew a reunion was in the works. They prepared for the big moment in separate green rooms, and the secret was safe until the were both on the set.
Antoinette did not come to New York alone. She was accompanied by her daughter LaVita Tuff. Lavita is a law student, and found out about the shooting on Facebook. She did not get a chance to speak to her mother until hours after the standoff ended. She didn't hear about her mother's heroics until after the 911 tape was released to the public.
Before the interview, Antoinette learned President Obama wanted to speak with her. His call came while she was in the makeup chair.
After the show aired, Antoinette and Kendra spent some more time catching up and sharing pizza.
"God put me there to help him"
Antoinette Tuff says God put her in the right place at the right time. She did not mean to be in the school's office when the gunman walked in. Antoinette explains how devastating news put her face to face with the gunman.
|
|
Post by: Filed under: 360° Radar • Antoinette Tuff |
"President Obama that's really you"
Antoinette Tuff's story touched President Obama, and he wanted to reach out to her. He called Antoinette while she was preparing to speak to Anderson, and she had to take the call in the makeup chair. She told Anderson it was the best voice she could ever hear.
|
|
Post by: Filed under: 360° Radar • Antoinette Tuff |
"I would like to go back and visit him"
Georgia school standoff hero Antoinette Tuff talks about the man who threatened her life, and the lives of more than 800 kids inside the McNair Discovery Learning Center. Tuff says she sees him as a hurting soul, and wants their relationship to continue.
|
|
Post by: Filed under: 360° Radar • Antoinette Tuff |
"We made it"
For the first time since they worked together to help end the Georgia school standoff without anyone getting hurt, bookkeeper Antoinette Tuff met 911 operator Kendra McCray. They had no idea they were about to meet until they were on-set. They shared their first impressions with Anderson.
|
|
Post by: Filed under: 360° Radar • Antoinette Tuff |
On Twitter
Go behind the scenes: AC361°
Gumby celebrates Isha Sesay's birthday
Anderson Cooper's birthday surprise
You asked, Anderson answers
