Hi, I Survived listeners. I'm Marissa Pinson. And before we get into this week's episode, I just want to remind you that episodes of I Survived as well as the A&E Classic podcast's Cold Case Files, City Confidential, and American Justice are all available ad-free on the new A&E Crime and Investigation Channel on Apple Podcasts and Apple Plus for just $4.99 a month or $39.99 a year.

And now onto the show.

This episode contains subject matter that may be disturbing to some listeners.

Listener discretion is advised.

He came about six inches to my face, about this close, and he took his knife and he cut me right here on my face.

Real people.

I guess it would be like a panic attack times 10 at that point.

My heart was racing, you know, I'm sweating, I'm shaking, I'm thinking,

this is it, these are my children, God, don't let nothing happen to my children.

Who faced death.

He pulled the 22 out of his backpack and started shooting at us.

And the very first thing that I saw was a girl get shot in the head and live to tell how.

I'm hysterical and I'm screaming.

I don't want to die.

I want to live.

And I can hear myself breathing and I can see

the blood dripping off with my face. This is I survived.

It's September 1984 in South Central Los Angeles.

11-year-old Frederick is living with his mother in a new house.

My mother was thrilled because this was her first house.

She was young. She was 33 years old.

I was excited because I was in my first room.

...