Editor’s note: The video previously included with this story had to be removed because of copyright concerns.
(NewsNation) — Florida State student Gabriel Santoro was in class Thursday when someone received an alarming notification on their phone.
The students knew they had to act quickly.
“Someone started moving desks,” Santoro told NewsNation’s Elizabeth Vargas. “We all started barricading the door.”
The scene has become all too familiar in American classrooms: Students blocking doors to keep out active shooters nearby.
“We surprisingly all remained relatively calm given the situation,” Santoro said. “I think we did very well.”
Sheltering in place on the second floor of Bellamy Hall, Santoro and his classmates peeked out the blinds and were relieved to see police rushing in.
“My condolences go out to everyone here,” Santoro said.
As of Thursday afternoon, two people were dead and six injured after a gunman opened fire on the Florida State University campus near the student union building.