Santa Fe Strong
Brutal USA is based in Santa Fe, Texas. Less than one year after the town was devastated by Hurricane Harvey, Santa Fe High School was the victim of senseless violence when a gunman planted bombs and then entered the school and opened fire. Ten students and teachers were killed along with countless others who were injured. As members of this community, we at Brutal Game Gear want to show our support and bring awareness to light.
My name is Heather Bryant and with my husband Charlie, are the owners of Brutal USA. We are members of a family who is deeply rooted in the Santa Fe community. My daughter, Haley, who is a graduating senior, is the third generation of my family to attend Santa Fe High School along with my nephew, Kolby. I have a son, two more nephews and countless other family members who also attend or have graduated from Santa Fe. To us, Santa Fe, the school and everyone who reside here are family.
The shooting occurred on Friday, May 18th, 2018. The police and parents were on site five minutes after the first call came in. Surrounding homes and businesses harbored scared students who fled the scene. Teachers and kids put the needs of others before their own when they stayed to help treat the wounded. My daughter along with many others went to support their friends fighting in the hospital. That very night, a candlelight vigil was organized in town. Area food trucks cooked and donated their profits to the victims fund.
The Santa Fe High School boys were supposed to play in the championships on Friday night. Their opponents were gracious enough to wait for the team to collect themselves long enough to make a decision. The coaches gathered the boys and left them alone to talk.
In Santa Fe, sports are religion. The boys decided that their town needed them to represent so they scheduled the game for Saturday night. The Indians took the field, minus two of their players who were injured in the shooting, and after a valiant fight, lost the game.
On Friday night, another area school dedicated their baseball game to Santa Fe so about 30 of our local students went to support and show their appreciation. The home team put on a heartfelt memorial ceremony that brought our kids to tears.
School was cancelled for the following Monday and Tuesday but not because our brave students needed time. The school was in shambles from the bomb sweep and the shooting. The time off would allow the school to be cleaned up so the kids could return as comfortably as possible. Over the weekend, everyone gathered together to show their loved ones that they were not alone.
The Baccalaureate ceremony was moved to a local church because the school was still locked down. More students attended the blessing than in past years. It was testament that our graduates were grateful to be alive. The seniors decided that the shooter was not going to win. Graduation, which was scheduled for the following Friday, would not be cancelled.
During this entire ordeal, our community never made this travesty a political platform. No one shouted for gun control or staged protests. They held hands and loved each other. When other kids would have walked out of class, our kids are trying to get back to them so they can be together. When the media came in and tried to make it political, the kids and their families froze them out.
The Houston Texans JJ Watt called in immediately and pledged to pay for the funerals of all of the victims. Several local groups/businesses organized fund raisers and the town went to work taking care of its own. We at Brutal Game Gear are working on special edition products that will raise money as well.
I have never been so proud of my home town as I am in the face of this darkness that took hold in the blink of an eye.
We are Texas and we are Santa Fe Strong!
