Dear Officer Alan Horujko,

November 28, 2016 was a scary day for all of us here at Ohio State. As the daughter, granddaughter, and niece of several police officers, I have the utmost respect for law enforcement. I have grown up knowing about the scary world we live in, have heard about atrocities occurring around me, but have never experienced something like this first hand.

This morning, I woke up, got ready, and went to head out the door to my class across campus, which also happened to be right next to Watt Hall. I was ready to head to class just like any other day, when I got a Buckeye Alert about an emergency on campus. Soon after, I received an alert about an active shooter. I was scared. I was scared for myself, for my friends, for my fellow Ohio State students and faculty. I was scared for those on the front lines, law enforcement officers such as you. Yet, I felt at ease.

I knew, because of people like you, everything would be okay. I knew that someone like you was protecting us, was risking their own life for those around them. I thank God every day for people like you. You put your life in danger and put yourself second to those around you, in order to stop an attack from getting worse. For that, I thank you endlessly.

Without you, things could have escalated. There could have been many more people injured or even killed, but you stopped that from happening. I can't even imagine what you're feeling after today. I know you did not wake up this morning expecting anything like this to occur. I know you did not wake up this morning knowing you would have to take somebody's life today.

Please remember that you saved lives today. You protected so many people today. Your actions today stopped an atrocity from getting so, so much worse. Thank you so much. I simply cannot thank you enough.

I hope you spent the rest of today surrounded by friends and family. I hope you hugged them tight and told you loved them. I know that's what I'm doing, and that's what everybody else here on campus is doing. Thank God we were able to do that, because of you.

I wish you all the best as we move forward, together, as an entire Buckeye community. Again, thank you so much for what you did today. You are a true hero.

God Bless,

All of us at Ohio State