Vladislav Ribnikar info

Tatjana Stevanovic talks about May 3

Tajana Stevanovic is one of the victims and survivors of Kosta Kecmanovic.
She is the history teacher and the first to get shot in the classroom, with 3 bullets. One in the left arm, one in the right, and one in the stomach.

Tatjana is a strong, inspiring woman.
Here she talked about her pov, the students, and thoughts of what happened on May 3 in Ribnikar.

"I only heard shots, without any child's voice. It was creepy.
It is a sad thought that I failed to save my students.
He hit me in the stomach. He probably wanted me to get out of the way, so that he could do what he had in mind."

"I don't think I'm a hero, the fact that I survived doesn't make me a hero.

I was just lucky enough to survive, and unfortunately many people weren't.

That's not heroism.
It still seems to me, even now after 7 months, that maybe I could've had done something..

I was the only adult in the classroom, but couldn't do anything... "

"When you ask me how I am, I feel that I have no right to say that I am not well.
First, because I stayed and because I am here, and ten souls have left.

Whenever someone asks me how I am, I answer "I'm fine"
But I'm sure I'll never be able to enter a classroom again and do my work. "

Tatjana dedicated 20 years to the classroom and spent 18 years in Ribnikar.
She said she probably would never have left the school if what had not happened.

"All those children were really incredible gems, as well as the whole class.
When you work in education for a long time and imagine what you would like the ideal classroom to look like, then you have a picture of 7/2.
Very smart, curious children, talented in some area, cultured and a solid team.
There was competition among them, but it was a positive one. "

For teacher Tatjana, the day of the massacre was just like any other day.
"We were in the department and we heard something,
Now we know they were gunshots, but at that time we thought they were fire crackers.
It bugs me that I didn't realize at that moment how the situation was serious.
I thought, "we had our Dragan", in whom we all had infinite trust, he was an angel among us.
He knew all the kids from the A and B shifts by name.
I felt some security because Dragan was there.
I was even joking with the department when we heard the noise.. "

"Then he suddenly opened the door and shot me first.
I guess I'm collateral damage, to get me out of the way so he can do what he has in mind.
I remember being shot in the stomach first. I flew away then fell.... Then came a tremble pain.
I remember that, as well as the frightened look of the student (Mara Andjelkovic) from the other desk who is no longer with us.
I lost my breath and thought- that's it.. That's the end.. "

"I am troubled by the answer to the question whether I could have done otherwise. Would it have been different if I realized what was going on? Or maybe it would be worse?
If I had gone to the door, I probably would have died like the little girl who came out of the bathroom when she heard the noises.

I didn't understand the situation..
None of us did... "

Tajana remembers hearing gunshots throughout the classroom as she layed on the floor. Just gunshots, without any child's voice.

"Then a child came to me, I don't know how it happened. We layed together like that for a while, then she left.
She was not wounded, I later found out who the girl was.
She probably came to me to protect her.
I remember that, vaguely.

While I was lying down, the only thing I saw was a pale face of a seriously wounded student (Vladimir Popevic) , who looked at me I'm fear.
He is now receiving hospital treatment in America and we are all praying for his recovery.

I was losing consciousness and coming back... Then darkness. "

"There are some moments you cannot explain at all. When I was lying there, almost out of breath, the only thing in front of my eyes, were my children. "

-Tatjana Stevanovic, one of the survivors of the May 3 massacre. She woke up on May 4 and is still strong,fighting for her life today.-

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