KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Thursday morning's shooting at Central High School has proved to be not only a traumatic event for students but for their parents as well.

It's a horrifying thought for any parent who hears about a shooting at their child's school. It leaves them with questions about their child’s safety, and not knowing the answer is difficult.

Parent Teena Waggoner say she thought, “Oh, My God! My son!"

Parent Lisa McGugin say, "Scared to death. I'm from Ohio. I just moved here from Ohio and where we come from it's a really small school so this is really nerve-wracking for me."

Parent SanJuana Stinnett says, "When they said it was in the cafeteria, I said. Not Columbine! Not again! Not now! Not us!"

Thursday morning's shooting at Central High was something nearly all students would have never expected would happen.

Students scrambled to safety. They knew they were ok, but their parents did not.

Student Carly Longmire says, "We're ok but I think she'll probably be the more upset because she's just worried about everything that's happened."

Student Haley Hammett says, "Mom called and Dad did too. They were freaking out."

Many parents are asking how something like this could happen.

Parent Pamela Chesney says, "I thought we had done something about it you know? The zero tolerance thing and the kids hadn't even started class yet."

Students and parents alike got a lot of comforting from each other with hugs, pats on the back, and just seeing each other was the most comforting.

But now students will get ready for school again Friday morning and even that's a little scary for parents.

Chesney says, "The community has just got to come together. We got to do a lot of praying and get back where we need to be."

McGugin says, "Very hard. I'm thinking about going back to Ohio -- Going back to our small community back there."

Waggoner says, "I'm going to worry but I'm going to make sure he has his cell phone with him at all times, even though he's not supposed to have it."

One student we talked to said they were surprised if they had to go back to school on Friday morning, but said if classes are held, they would go.