Every morning, preschool teacher Angela Hall begins her day by having her students sit in a circle at their Shreveport, Louisiana classroom. The children laugh together, share stories, and notice which friends aren’t present.
On Monday, one student observed: “Braylon, he’s not here,” Hall remembered.
Five-year-old Braylon Snow was among eight family members — seven siblings and their cousin — who died Sunday when their father opened fire in a tragic shooting that has devastated the Shreveport community and left educators struggling with grief.
At the Johnnie L. Cochran Head Start center where Hall teaches, students typically spot absent classmates right away during their daily routine of checking for missing friends.
“When they come back tomorrow, we can tell them, ‘Hey, we missed you, we’re glad you’re back,’” Hall explains to her students during this exercise.
However, Hall found herself unable to explain to the children that the boy she fondly called a “cool little dude” would never be coming back. She continued with the morning routine but, overwhelmed with grief, had to leave at midday.
“I’m no good to my babies right now because I just feel like I need to be in a moment of silence and just pray,” she explained.
The Head Start program has been busy preparing for graduation ceremonies scheduled for next month. Hall, who plays organ and piano at her Baptist church, composed a special song for the event.
The young students have been practicing in their caps and gowns, eagerly anticipating their transition to kindergarten this fall. Hall had been working diligently to ensure all her students were prepared for this milestone.
During Thursday’s morning arrival, Hall had excitedly told Braylon’s mother about his progress, sharing how he was now writing both his first and last names. The boy had also become more self-sufficient, pouring syrup on his pancakes independently and remembering to wash his hands without prompting.
“Braylon doesn’t give me any problems,” she had told his mother just days earlier.
Each day, Braylon would greet Hall — whom students called “Mrs. Hall” — with a gentle wave.
Throughout the school year, she had coaxed more smiles from the boy. He enjoyed outdoor playtime, engaging in games of chase and tag, and even some “a little wrassling,” which made her chuckle to recall.
“He was for the majority of the time kind of a quiet little soul in the classroom,” she reflected. “When he did get a little extra energy or something, it was just a joy to see him smile and laugh.”
Sunday changed everything. After attending church services, Hall visited her mother’s home, where she discovered news coverage of the shooting.
The massive scale of casualties initially seemed incomprehensible to her. When she learned Braylon was among the victims, along with one of his brothers who had attended Head Start the previous year, the reality hit hard.
“I just broke down and just started crying,” she said.
Monday morning brought another emotional moment when she made eye contact with a parent during drop-off. With young children present, neither adult could speak about what had happened.
“I just immediately broke down,” she recalled. The parent and a teaching assistant also became emotional.
Hall is now turning to her religious faith for comfort, praying for the victims, their families, and fellow educators.
“And I’m just praying for all the educators that were connected to these children because it’s tough because my parents’ babies, they become my babies. And I treat them like they’re my own. So I’m just really praying that he sustains us all during this time.
“Just give us that strength.”
