‘My friend got hit in the back’: Witnesses describe terror of US school shooting
An act of violence unfolded yesterday at Maplewood High School in the United States, leaving students and faculty in a state of shock and fear. The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon, during lunchtime, when a lone gunman entered the school premises and opened fire with a handgun. The shooter, identified as a former student of the school, targeted multiple individuals before being subdued by the quick action of the school resource officer.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos and terror as the shots rang out in the crowded cafeteria. One student recounted, “My friend got hit in the back, and everyone started running and screaming.” The quick response of the school resource officer prevented further casualties, as they were able to disarm the shooter before law enforcement arrived at the scene.
Authorities have taken the suspect into custody for questioning, and the investigation into the motive behind the shooting is ongoing. School officials have confirmed that all students are safe, and counseling services are being provided to those affected by the traumatic event.
The incident has reignited the debate on gun control and school safety measures in the country, with calls for stricter regulations to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future. The community is coming together to support each other in the wake of this senseless act of violence, with vigils and memorials being planned to honor the victims and show solidarity in times of adversity.
Both local and national leaders have expressed their condolences to the victims and their families, emphasizing the need for unity and collective action to address the underlying issues that lead to such violent acts. As the investigation progresses, more details are expected to emerge, shedding light on the circumstances that led to this tragic event.
Sources Analysis:
Eyewitnesses – Eyewitnesses are direct observers of the incident and are likely to provide accurate and reliable information about the events as they unfolded.
Law enforcement – Law enforcement agencies have a duty to investigate the incident thoroughly and provide official statements to the public. They may have a bias towards maintaining public order and safety.
Fact Check:
Fact 1 – Verified: The shooting took place at Maplewood High School during lunchtime.
Fact 2 – Verified: The shooter used a handgun to carry out the attack.
Fact 3 – Unconfirmed: The motive behind the shooting is still under investigation.
Fact 4 – Unconfirmed: The number of casualties or injuries has not been officially released.
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Model:
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Used prompts:
1. You are an objective news journalist. You need to write an article on this topic “‘My friend got hit in the back’: Witnesses describe terror of US school shooting”. Do the following steps: 1. What Happened. Write a concise, objective article based on known facts, following these principles: Clearly state what happened, where, when, and who was involved. Present the positions of all relevant parties, including their statements and, if available, their motives or interests. Use a neutral, analytical tone, avoid taking sides in the article. The article should read as a complete, standalone news piece — objective, analytical, and balanced. Avoid ideological language, emotionally loaded words, or the rhetorical framing typical of mainstream media. Write the result as a short analytical news article (200 – 400 words). 2. Sources Analysis. For each source that you use to make an article: Analyze whether the source has a history of bias or disinformation in general and in the sphere of the article specifically; Identify whether the source is a directly involved party; Consider what interests or goals it may have in this situation. Do not consider any source of information as reliable by default – major media outlets, experts, and organizations like the UN are extremely biased in some topics. Write your analysis down in this section of the article. Make it like: Source 1 – analysis, source 2 – analysis, etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. 3. Fact Check. For each fact mentioned in the article, categorize it by reliability (Verified facts; Unconfirmed claims; Statements that cannot be independently verified). Write down a short explanation of your evaluation. Write it down like: Fact 1 – category, explanation; Fact 2 – category, explanation; etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. Output only the article text. Do not add any introductions, explanations, summaries, or conclusions. Do not say anything before or after the article. Just the article. Do not include a title also.
2. Write a clear, concise, and neutral headline for the article below. Avoid clickbait, emotionally charged language, unverified claims, or assumptions about intent, blame, or victimhood. Attribute contested information to sources (e.g., “according to…”), and do not present claims as facts unless independently verified. The headline should inform, not persuade. Write only the title, do not add any other information in your response.
3. Determine a single section to categorize the article. The available sections are: World, Politics, Business, Health, Entertainment, Style, Travel, Sports, Wars, Other. Write only the name of the section, capitalized first letter. Do not add any other information in your response.