CNN host John Berman’s coverage of Brown University’s mass shooting got personal Sunday when he interviewed one of the people who sheltered in place during the attack ― his son Joe.
Berman, on site in Providence, Rhode Island, for a report after two were killed and nine injured with the gunman still at large as of Monday morning, explained that Joe isn’t a student at the Ivy League school, “but happened to pick last night to visit one of his best friends who does go here.”
The anchor noted that his son met his friend at a library nearby. “What happened?” he asked Joe.
“We were preparing to fill out the entrance form,” Joe Berman replied. “… And right in front of us, talking to a different library clerk was a woman who was very sad on the phone. Her friend had just seen someone lying on the ground and said they had to call 911. And what happened immediately after was the librarian said they gotta lock the doors. Everyone should go inside, to get away from windows, and just follow those people trying to get to safer spaces.”
John Berman responded, “And you, thankfully, decided to call us,” before adding, “Why’d you call us?”
His son answered, “It’s a scary situation. It doesn’t really cross your mind when you see it on the news all the time. And I suppose I’ve become desensitized towards it. … I have friends from my high school here, my best friend, a bunch of his friends know people. And it just it feels a lot closer to home when it happens.”
The lockdown lasted seven hours before Joe said he was bused to another location with a police motorcade, and he eventually found a place to stay for the rest of the night.
Joe said the gravity of the moment hit him amid the silence outside of the protected zone. At that point, the elder Berman went into full father mode.
“When you called us — and again, thank you so much for calling us — you sounded so calm. Were you trying to make us not worry?” the anchor asked.
“I think it’s any son’s job to make their parents not worry. But in this situation, I felt very safe. I mean, the Brown Police Department responded very fast. The librarians were very helpful. There was security in the building. And then after three hours, there were cops protecting us. So, I felt safe. I didn’t want to spread any fear onto you guys. And I was with my friends, so that’s what I cared about most,” his son said.
“Well, we appreciated it,” John Berman said as the emotion of the moment crept in. “I’m really glad you’re OK. … and thanks for sticking around to talk to me .. get home safely.”
The two concluded the interview with a tight embrace.
“That was Joe Berman. Good guy. Known him for a long time,” the elder Berman said before signing off.
