Fright Night

Tonight, along with two volunteer leaders, I took about thirty 8th graders to the AMC movie theatre at Northpark Mall to watch The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian on opening night. We went to the 8:20pm show that didn't get out until about 11:00pm. Here's the headline and story of what happened just outside while we were watching the movie:

Woman shot at NorthPark Center while waiting for daughter
11:16 PM CDT on Friday, May 16, 2008

Dallas police were looking for a man who shot a woman about 9 p.m. Friday in her car on the north side of NorthPark Center.

The 43-year-old woman, who police had not identified, was taken to Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas with at least one gunshot wound to the face. She was in stable condition.

She had waiting in the parking lot for her teenage daughter who was attending a movie when a man approached her running truck and pointed a gun at her.

The man chased her truck and shot her as she tried to escape.

The woman pulled up to a valet station to get help.

Police and mall security were still searching for the gunman late Friday. He is described as black, 5-foot-9 and possibly in his mid-20s. He was wearing a neon green shirt and blue jean shorts.

Yeah. I know. So I walk out of the movie and there are police everywhere. Kids are on their cell phones freaking out. Parents are freaking out trying to safely evacuate their kids from our event. I'm thanking God tonight that everyone in our group was able to navigate their way safely past the crime scene, avoid the fleeing gunman, and find their rides home. Whew!

Just another day in student ministry. Am I right?