When North Shore resident Doug Roth heard that counseling services were going to be offered at Highland Park High School, he knew that he and his service dog, Jasper, needed to be there.
"I felt that he could be of use to those people right now who are obviously needing emotional support," said Roth. "And who doesn't like dogs?"
On Tuesday, the City of Highland Park made counseling professionals available at Highland Park High School for students, staff, and community members from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Zachary Katznelson was one of many who stopped to pet Jasper outside the high school Tuesday morning.
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The 17-year-old is part of the Highland Park High School marching band. He said gunshots rang out minutes after they'd performed in the Highland Park’s Fourth of July parade.
"I saw people running behind me, and then I heard people screaming, 'Gunfire! Gunfire!' and then I just ran as fast as I could," Katznelson said. "I just feel so lucky. I have some of that guilt that it could have been me; it could have been any of us in the band."
Katznelson and his family came to Highland Park High School less than 24 hours after the traumatic event to meet with counseling professionals and process what he said were mixed emotions.
"It was definitely beneficial," he said. "We wanted to release some of [the] pent up emotions we had, that we didn't really know how to get out. We're still kind of processing this event."
In a statement, the City of Highland Park said, "As we grieve together as a community, we need to support each other as a community. In the aftermath of this unthinkable tragedy, we are stronger together."
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