Guns, grief and god: Part 1

School shootings in the USA continue to be a far too common tragedy. The effects on students, teachers and entire communities are both devastating and long-lasting.

In January 2017, 16-year-old Logan Cole, who lives in a small town in the American mid-west was shot in the bathroom of his high school by a fellow student. His injuries were extensive. Afraid for their own lives, other students jumped out of school windows. As the news rippled around the small neighbourhood, there was an overwhelming sense of shock, despair and disbelief.

As the close knit community struggled with coming to terms with what had happened, Logan immediately began preaching messages of faith and forgiveness. Even whilst lying in his hospital bed, unsure of whether his injuries would prove to be fatal, Logan asked his school and community to pray for the shooter and his family.

Sam Walker travelled to Ohio to see first-hand the effects that Logan’s own faith had on his actions and how his attitude of love and forgiveness towards the young man who shot him had an extraordinary effect on the people of his community. Sam also discovered how Logan's message of absolution led to a huge change in his own life.

Producer/presenter: Sam Walker
Executive producer: Rajeev Gupta
Editor: Chloe Walker
Production co-ordinator: Mica Nepomuceno

[Photo: Logan (R) and his father (L). Credit: Sam Walker)