Deadly shootings shake up area Aggies

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Many Aggies in Central Texas had their hearts in College Station on Monday, tracking developments in the shooting that happened close to the Texas A&M campus.

"My prayers and thoughts go out to the constable that died and his family and everyone else around that was affected by the shooting," said 2011 graduate Marie Mazzanti.

She was glued to Twitter all day and received the Code Maroon alerts from Texas A&M University on her smartphone. Mazzanti still has many friends who live and go to school in the small college town.

"[Texas] A&M is extremely good at keeping everyone informed and up-to-date on scares like this," said Mazzanti, who was a student when the campus went on lockdown in 2010 after a Corps Cadet was spotted carrying a replica weapon.

"This time, it wasn't a scare -- which is what we were all hoping," said Mazzanti.

Les Stobart called friends in College Station as well and stayed updated through media sites online. He will be moving his 18-year-old son, Collin, into the dorms next weekend for his freshman year at Texas A&M.

"Any time your child is out of your grasp, then yeah, you've got certain concerns or worries," said Stobart. "But is there anything additional that today causes? Honestly, no."

Despite Monday's killings, Stobart still believes College Station is just as safe as ever. Before he says goodbye to his son next weekend, he'll make sure Collin signs up for the Code Maroon emergency alerts.

"The additional words of wisdom I'll impart to Collin will be: 'Hey, if something like that happens, then pay attention to it. Know your surroundings, and understand what the message says.'"

Just hours after the shooting, Aggies are already seeing the good through the bad.

"Seeing all the other colleges that have had shootings -- it's terrible, it's tragic, but they've bounced back. And if anything, it will make it stronger," said Mazzanti.