VA shooting witness speaks out

Krystal Valverde, a six-year Veteran was inside the VA Clinic at the time of the shooting on Tuesday, Jan. 6.

Valverde said she did not believe what was happening until two other veterans nearby said they heard a woman running down the stairs shouting, “He has a gun, he has a gun,” The woman said. “He is going to kill us.”

Valverde said she was at the clinic for a routine visit when suddenly a psychiatrist pulled her aside into a separate room and told her to be quiet and hide.

Valverde said the experience was hard to believe and she felt helpless. “In the Army we were trained with a weapon,” Valverde said. “And when this man was armed with a gun you want to arm yourself and go out and help, but all we could do was hide and I just felt so defenseless.”

FBI officials evacuated all of the people inside the building as soon as possible. Valverde said the response from all the emergency crews was extremely fast and she was glad they helped others to safety.