A father in Killeen, Texas, unable to sleep after Tuesday's mass taking pictures in Uvalde, is standing guard outdoors his daughter's elementary college, easing the minds of different apprehensive dad and mom.

A photograph of Ed Chelby standing vigilantly outdoors Saegert Elementary has been broadly circulated on-line, studies KWTX. Dad and mom have reacted with gratitude and reduction to Chelby's effort following the college taking pictures in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 youngsters and two educators lifeless.

"You do not know should you ought to ship your child to high school," he advised the station, echoing different dad and mom' anxiousness that their college may very well be focused subsequent. "You need them to get their schooling and their expertise of the final days of college, however you need to defend them with every little thing you bought."

After the taking pictures, a troubled Chelby despatched an electronic mail to the superintendent at Killeen Unbiased Faculty District asking if he may stand outdoors the elementary college, the place his spouse works as a nurse, to regulate its essential entrance, in response to the station.

School Outside
A father in Killeen, Texas, is standing outdoors his daughter's elementary college. His presence has been reassuring to different dad and mom. Above, the outside of a typical American college constructing is proven. littleny/Getty Pictures

Chelby, who has 11 years' expertise within the U.S. Military and a safety background, stated he was assured he may hold the constructing secure by standing outdoors unarmed whereas easing dad and mom' anxiousness, studies KWTX.

He had already utilized to volunteer on the college and his background test was underway when he approached the superintendent with the thought, in response to the station. Chelby stated he did not count on the district to log off on the thought, however now he watches the college's entrance door.

"I've had numerous emotional folks come as much as me," Chelby advised the station. "They did not need to ship their youngsters to high school. They struggled with sending their youngsters to high school."

Samantha Longfeather-Locke, the mom of a pupil at Saegert, was amongst Killeen dad and mom grateful to Chelby.

"Him standing in entrance of the college, that is reassuring—feeling that we get to go residence and see our households this summer time," Longfeather-Locke advised KWTX. "The world wanted to know what he was doing as a result of I really feel that, that is sparking some form of change to begin."

Chelby's effort has drawn optimistic suggestions on-line.

"Please say because of this wonderful gentleman that volunteered at present to face watch at a Texas college," Twitter person Blue Starr stated in a tweet. "We'd like extra like him."

Killeen is a metropolis of about 156,000, north of Austin and almost 4 hours away from Uvalde, which noticed the worst college taking pictures because the 2012 bloodbath at Sandy Hook Elementary Faculty in Newtown, Connecticut.

The taking pictures has reopened a fraught debate over gun management and how you can stop future tragedies. However folks from outdoors Uvalde have reached out, serving to elevate funds for the household of a slain instructor. Survivors Empowered, a corporation set as much as assist survivors of different mass shootings, is additionally planning a go to to Uvalde.

Chelby couldn't be reached by Newsweek Thursday night for remark. Newsweek has additionally reached out to Saegert Elementary for remark.