Lock Down

Yesterday was quite the eventful day! As most of you know I live in Huntsville, Texas. Sometimes I like to call it "The Prison City!" I know you may not think that's funny, but when you live in a city full of prisoners and death row inmates, you sometimes have to make things positive so you don't freak yourself out. I've always felt safe here, but there are definitely times my mind goes crazy and I think of all the crazy things that COULD happen. On occasion I do think of inmates escaping. It's happened once or twice while I've lived here and the atmosphere of the town does change a bit, we're all a little on edge, but most of the time we're just extra cautious and move on with our day.

Yesterday was different, though. Two inmates escaped early yesterday morning while doing yard work on the highway. Obviously, if they were doing yard work, outside, they've been given the privilege to do so and they're trusted. They lost that trust yesterday after escaping and killing a guard. My heart is sad for that family. What a risky job. They are better people than I am for working at a prison! And for that matter, being a guard.

Normally when there are escapees, Huntsville goes on lock down. All the schools stay locked, and then it's up to the businesses and the college (Sam Houston) to make a decision as to whether we'll be on lock down or not. Most of the time, everything is on lock down for a bit, and then they re-open. Sam Houston, however, seems to NEVER go on lock down. We are simply all sent an email (as if we check our email in class) telling us to stay safe. Yes, they send us updates, but seriously. Wal-Mart was even on lock down for a bit. Now that, my friends, is RARE!

As I left school yesterday, very cautiously, I had heard I couldn't get to my apartment because that side of I-45 had been closed off for the time being. My roommate told me to come to her friends house until we could go home and I was OK with that. I'd much rather be with people than by myself anyway. After I picked up some lunch, I decided I would just try and go to our apartment to see if we could get in yet. Well, low and behold, I could. But, upon my arrival I decided NOT to stay because I wasn't sure about the 3 helicopters circling our apartments. Umm, no thank you! So, I went to the friends apartment. That's when I realized that the reason my side of 45 was closed was because that's where all the drama took place. And, not only did it take place on my side of 45, but it took place basically in the parking lot of my apartment.

You see, there is a bank literally right in front of my apartment. It sits in our entry way. The 2 escapees, after killing and taking the weapons from the prison guard, ran to the bank where they hijacked a ladies truck, while shooting, and throwing her in the back seat while they sped off. My apartment manager saw it all happen. Scary. Luckily, they were caught of few blocks away. They abandoned the truck, and the lady, then one was caught and one ran off on foot. That's when the search began. He not only escaped, but he was armed and dangerous. Thankfully, late afternoon they caught him, and now the 2 are back in prison, with no privileges and more charges against them. They have no remorse and told the public that they have "nothing to loose." So sad. My heart hurts for the guard who was killed and her family. Her husband is an HPD officer and when interviewed last night said that "she was everything he had."

Pray for that family, would you?

When Megan and I returned to our apartment, after a little scare of our own, we had our own "lock down." You better believe that ALL of the locks on our door were secure and LOCKED. They may have been caught, but we were on edge.

And that, sweet friends, is an exciting day in Huntsville, Texas. We get to experience the joy's of TDCJ (Texas Department of Criminal Justice) that no one else experiences.