Midland counselor says shock, grief and fear may follow June 12 shooting

In the aftermath of the June 12 shooting, a Midland counselor said residents should expect shock, grief and fear to ripple across the community, not just among those directly affected, as people struggle to process a traumatic event that shattered their sense of normalcy.

"Right now, everyone is going to be in shock, so the most important thing is to make sure you're taking care of yourself," said Sabrina Wegner, a licensed marriage and family therapist and licensed professional counselor.

"We haven't had a big shooting since the big one down the road in 2019, so everyone's going to be in shock."

Shock can affect how people behave or feel and can take them out of their usual routines.

"It's very normal for people to experience different feelings and get out of their normal routines," Wegner said. "It's so important to be aware of keeping yourself taking care of the things you need to take care of."

She added that it is OK for the shooting to affect people for some time, but the most important thing is to take care of themselves throughout the process.

"Make sure that you take care of yourself, stay in your routine and take care of all the people in your life," Wegner said. "Avoid the places that aren't safe but keep taking care of yourself."

Once the shock passes, people may begin to deal with grief in many ways, Wegner said. Families may be affected even if they don't lose a loved one.

"It's a grieving process when you have to deal with a new injury and limitations, even if it's temporary," she said.

"You may be grieving the innocence that we had before, or the feeling of being safe, because now that safety has been threatened by this incident that occurred."

Community members may also fear going out in public after an incident like this.

"The biggest thing is to do what you can to make sure you can keep yourself safe," Wegner said.

"If there's an area that you're not sure is safe, it's OK to avoid going there. But if there's a point in which you can't get to the places you need to be, you may need to consider counseling."

People may also experience anxiety or other symptoms of trauma.

"Whenever those strong feelings come up, I would say one of the most important things to do is just take a minute to stop and breathe, because that can help regulate your heart rate and blood pressure," Wegner said.

Taking time to stop, slow down and focus on breathing can help in the moment. This type of regulation can be done while sitting, standing in line or anywhere else people may be.

Wegner added that it's OK to take a break if you need one, even if it's just five minutes to let the feelings pass.

"Every feeling of anxiety, panic attacks don't last more than 30 minutes," she explained.

"That feeling of anxiety will not kill someone, it will pass. It's important to remember that those feelings will go away and you just have to get through that period until your system helps you calm down."

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This story was originally published June 12, 2026 at 9:56 PM.