PARKLAND, FLA. (WSVN) - Families who lost their loved ones in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School came face to face with the pain of the past.
On Wednesday, for the first time, they were allowed inside the hallways and classrooms of the 1200 building of the campus, where a gunman targeted innocent people on Feb. 14, 2018, causing carnage that changed so many lives.
The private visits continued throughout Thursday as Broward Sheriff deputies guarded the gate.
Linda Beigel visited the building where her son, Scott Beigel, was murdered five years ago.
“I can’t say goodbye, I just can’t say goodbye,” Linda said. “It’s been five years and 151 days. It’s been 1,969 days, and I still can’t say goodbye.”
Scott was a teacher at the high school and died holding his classroom door open for students running for cover as the gunman opened fire.
On Wednesday, Linda stood in her son’s classroom.
“You see the blasts on the floor, you see the bullet holes, you see the blood, you see the doors where [the gunman] shot through,” she said. “You see the classrooms exactly – the way the desks were. I needed to be where my son was when he took his last breath and where he really became a hero.”
Tony Montalto, the father of victim Gina Montalto, also visited the 1200 building.
“Entering the building where my daughter was shot was among the top five hardest things I’ve ever had to do,” Tony said.
Now that the sentencing of the killer is complete, and the criminal neglect trial of Scot Peterson, the school resource officer, is over, families are allowed to go inside the building where their loved ones died and retrieve belongings if they want.
The killer was sentenced to life in prison last year, and Peterson, who was on trial for not confronting the gunman, was found not guilty last week.
“It’s going to be pure agony, but that is where my sweet boy took his last breath,” said Gena Hoyer, who lost her son, Luke Hoyer.
The preserved crime scene is set to eventually be demolished. Families and survivors are hoping its destruction can help them heal.
“I’m not sure that this is where Gina took her last breath; she did make it to the hospital,” said Tony, “but I know that I love her very much and I always will, and must all work together to prevent these things from happening.”
“There’s no closure, but this is something that I had to do, and I’m glad I did it,” said Linda.
“I’ll never close out Gina. She’ll always be my first born, my only daughter, my beloved daughter,” said Tony.
The only person to visit the building in the afternoon was Raymond Feis, whose brother, Aaron Feis, died in the shooting.
Mas Schachter, the father of victim Alex Schachter, is scheduled to visit the 1200 building on Thursday.
The visits will continue over the next few weeks before the school year starts. Every family is allotted one hour to be inside the building alone.
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