Antoinette Tuff and Kiplyn Primus
Recorded
August 22, 2023
Archived
August 22, 2023
36:48 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
atl004835
Description
StoryCorps Facilitator Kiplyn Primus (62) sits down for a second conversation with local figure, Antoinette Tuff (57). August 2023 marks ten years since Ms. Tuff saved a DeKalb County school from a mass shooting.Subject Log / Time Code
Kiplyn Primus asks Antoinette Tuff how her life has changed since August 20, 2013. Antoinette talks about being back in Atlanta after having moved to Dallas, Texas.
Kiplyn asks Antoinette about her mental state in the days leading up to being confronted by a gunman.
Kiplyn asks Antoinette how she stayed so calm. Antoinette remembers the chaos and says she was screaming on the inside.
Antoinette talks about being in the same kind of pain as the gunman.
Antoinette talks about her relationship with God.
Kiplyn wonders why, with the hundreds of shootings since 2013, there has not been another story of someone talking a shooter down.
Antoinette talks about middle and high school kids with guns. She talks about mental illness and bullying.
Kiplyn asks Antoinette when she knew she had reached the gunman. Antoinette says she didn't know she had reached him. She talks about seeing his pain.
Antoinette says she did not think they would survive. She remembers asking the gunman his name.
Antoinette says the gunman could have gone to lots of other schools. She says she does not believe his actions were racially motivated.
Antoinette says she was genuinely concerned for the gunman's well-being. She says he did fire at the police and that the police were firing back at him.
Kiplyn asks if Antoinette has kept in touch with the gunman. She asks if Antoinette has listened to the 9-1-1 call.
Antoinette talks about her training courses. She says it's rewarding to help change people's lives.
Antoinette says her son and daughter are following in her footsteps.
Antoinette talks about the organization she founded, Kids On the Move for Success. She says children need to know that they are loved, cared for, and protected.
Kiplyn talks about mass shootings being part of our lives.
Antoinette talks about the numbers of children who lost one or both parents during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kiplyn talks about how much Antoinette has taught us all. She thanks her for having this second conversation.
Participants
- Antoinette Tuff
- Kiplyn Primus