TOWNVILLE, S.C. — Throughout the year, law enforcement agencies across the country train for almost every possible scenario they may face while protecting their communities.
"It's nothing like training, but luckily the training gets you past that shock point to where you are able to function," Anderson County Deputy Timothy McCarley explained.
Deputy McCarley was one of the first deputies on the scene in 2016 when a 14-year-old opened fire on the playground of Townville Elementary in Townville, South Carolina. Six-year-old Jacob Hall died three days after being shot. A second student and a teacher survived the shooting.
"Nothing prepares you for what your eyes actually see," Deputy McCarley said.
On Sept. 28, it will mark the eighth anniversary of the deadly school shooting in a small quaint town in Upstate South Carolina.
While much smaller, the town resembles the close-knit feeling in Winder, Georgia. A community struck with tragedy on Sept. 4 when a shooting unfolded inside Apalachee High School.
Two students and two teachers were killed inside the high school. Seven other people were shot, and two others were injured during the shooting.
"It never goes away," Deputy McCarley explained. He said for those men and women who responded to Apalachee High School, they'll likely reflect on that day for the rest of their lives.
"I'm still not through the process, I don't think it's something that ever goes away. I think you learn to cope and deal with things," he said.
Deputy McCarley said he remembers that Wednesday in September of 2016 as if it happened yesterday. Their unit was training that day.
"When I heard the call come out of active shooter," he said.
Deputy McCarley said he jumped in his vehicle and tore out towards the school without hesitation.
"You've got the pedal mashed so hard your leg is shaking because you want to get there to make sure it's not what they're saying it is or if it is what they're saying, you can address the situation," he explained.
Deputy McCarley said he decided to go around the back when he got to the school.
"The door had been shot through, the glass was shattered , blood started at the door," he explained.
Deputy McCarley said he followed the trail of blood into the school, which led him to a teacher's lounge.
"Within the teacher's lounge, there were several victims," Deputy McCarley said.
He said by this time, Jacob Hall was in bad shape. He applied a tourniquet to his upper thigh near where the six-year-old had been shot.
He next helped get another student out of the room.
"I scooped up this young man, ran him out of the school up the hill where EMS was," Deputy McCarley said.
As for the shooter, Jesse Osborne, who was 14 years old at the time, was tackled by a volunteer firefighter who also responded to the call. Fortunately, Osborne's gun jammed, which prevented him from continuing to fire it.
"Nothing prepares you for what your eyes actually see," Deputy McCarley said.
Something he now shares with his brothers and sisters in blue across north Georgia, who responded on Sept. 4 to Apalachee High School.
Deputy McCarley said they'll reflect on that day at some point, just as he does.
"I think often about what I could have done better," he explained.
Of course, the loss of an innocent child is unimaginable.
"Had I done something different, would Jacob still be alive so that weighs heavy on me," Deputy McCarley said.
Until that day in September, just like the community of Winder, Deputy McCarley said there was always that sense, "You know, that won't happen here."
Adding, given the world's current state, "It's not if; it's when it's going to happen here."
Deputy McCarley said that as the Winder community, the students and faculty at Apalachee High School and first responders work to move forward, certain things will bring them back to that day.
He recalled the moment he learned of the Apalachee High School shooting, "There's things like this that trigger that emotion and sadness of it but I think family and faith are what get you through."
The shooter, Jesse Osborne, avoided a trial and pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to life in prison.
