GREEN BAY, Wis. — The shooting that left 3 people dead at the Radisson Hotel Saturday will be a night many families will remember.
Rodd and Lara Seifarth from Pittsburg stayed at the Radisson hotel with their son and his hockey team. They were celebrating the team making it nationals, though being eliminated, the high school-aged team ended the trip with a night in.
Dinner was cut short for the Seifarth’s.
Around 7:30 p.m., several shots were heard in the restaurant across the lobby where they were seated.
"We had the whole team in that room, and one of the dads who was a retired police officer yelled ‘shots' and we all knew it was deadly serious," said Lara Seifarth, recalling the chaos that followed.
"We were panicked, we were fearful because we didn’t know what was happening and if we were going the right direction," said Rodd Seifarth.
Families rushed outside through any exit door they could find, waiting for answers outside the hotel.
Heavy law enforcement presence was seen throughout the night into early Sunday morning.
The Seifarth’s headed back home Sunday afternoon with gratitude towards law enforcement including a retired police officer who happened to be the father of a teammate.
"The fellow that got us out, we’re so grateful for the officer and ex-military, he’s a hero," said Rodd Seifarth.
Michael Belak is the retired officer who helped others get to safety. The Seifarth’s say if it wasn’t for people like him, they’re not sure what the outcome could have been.
"We’ll take a little while to process it, but we’ll get back together and have some closure," adds Rodd Seifarth. "And for officer Mike Belak, we’re definitely going to do something to recognize him in the role he had in keeping us safe this weekend."