>> i'm craig melvin and i'm natalie morales. and this is dateline. it was just chaos. a day at the mall descends into me him. as armed men turned shoppers into pre-. >> lots of screaming, lots of gunfire. they had a demeanor like they owned the police. >> panic months protecting their kids. >> i just kept telling them to be quiet, like a mouse. >> my goodness, he's going to cry. this is it. >> kids forced to protect one another. >> you grabbed your brother. >> yes, and just ran.

>> and from out of the blue, a hero. >> i just call to her to run towards me. she starts running. >> could he rescue the very smallest of victims? >> when portia got up and ran, did you have a moment when you got up and thought, oh my god? >> hello, and welcome to dateline. newtown, orlando, las vegas. it seems like mass shootings have become all too frequent here in the u.s.. and overseas in a mall in nairobi, kenya, masked assailants carried out and even deadlier attack. it was otherwise normal saturday afternoon of shopping, when good men turned it into a scene of bedlam and bloodshed. but will also emerge that day were some remarkable stories of courage and survival. here is keith snow. >> it's the modern-day town

square. a gathering place that fulfills our every need. shopping, eating, socializing. a trip to the mall is an escape on weekends. and not just in america, in nairobi, kenya, the upscale and modern west gate mall was the place to unwind at the end of the work week. it was the last place you would expect something like this. [noise] >> gunshots, explosions, armed men over every floor, methodically shooting anyone in their way. that was the unbelievably brutal scene that played out in front of a shock to world september 21st, 2013. just after the smoke cleared, dateline traveled to nairobi. we'll take you inside the mall attack. with harrowing scenes of how it

unfolded and details from those who lived through it. you'll hear from two mothers who got in the cross fire. >> it was pretty terrifying. it really was. it was very, very, very fearful. >> two mothers caught on camera. >> what is going to happen? i am going to die? the kids are going to die. >> in a matter of seconds, these moms, an american and a kenyan, goal from strolling through the mall, to being forced to make life and death decisions to save themselves and their children. for katherine walton, it began like any other saturday. with her husband phillip away on business, she took their five kids to the westgate mall. it was a place where all of them could be entertained, the teens and the toddlers. her kids like the chicken place, the candy store. >> just an opportunity to walk around and. i knew that we they could go

home and have naps and everybody would be happy. >> the walton chose to move to kenya two years ago from texas. four katherine and phillip it, was like going home. they were both children of missionaries and grew up in countries in west africa. they met in boarding school in africa, married in the states, and started raising their family. at the time of the attack, blaise was 14 years old, ian ten, portia, four and gigi, too. and petra, the baby, 13 months old, was born in kenya. their morning at the mall unfolded just as any families might. they had lunch together on the third floor food court. after lunch, the boys decided to race down to the first floor to a big department store. sort of like a super walmart. mom and the three young girls were still finishing up lunch, so they lagged behind. as they were walking through the mall to catch up with the boys, with the baby in a sling,

and the two toddlers holding mom's hands. it happened. an explosion. [noise] the first thing that tells you something is wrong is a huge bang? >> yes. >> coming from where? >> it was the main entrance, so it was off to my right. and behind me. i remember turning around and looking at it and just seeing people screaming and running. >> in those first seconds, katherine wasn't sure what's happening. she thought it sounded like a broken glass, something falling. but she immediately grasped that she and her girls were in danger. the chaos confused another mother not far from katherine on the main floor. faith was in the mall with her two children. nine year old daughter sy and 21 month old son. the agriculture researcher was sought shopping for an anniversary present with her husband. she was in the flower shop when she first heard the noise. >> it was so loud that i

actually thought there must have been an earthquake in the building was collapsing. so that was the point when i just told my kids to lie down. of course, i am scanning the area wondering where we are going to go. >> scenes captured on security cameras in the mall, showed how quickly the attack and began. you can see machine gun bullets flashing down the main concourse, as shoppers frantically scramble and dive to the floor. >> and then i saw rounds starting to hit the shops that were straight ahead. >> katherine's first thought, protect her kids. >> it was just instinct to grab the girls and run. but we must not have gone very far. a kenyan came and scooped up portia. and we both ran right behind this display table, display cabinet. >> katherine, her girls, and the kenyan woman to cover the only place they could. here they are crouching under a

flimsy temporary display table. >> petra was crying because i was laying on her. and it was allowed. it was very loud, very chaotic. >> what was happening around you? what are you hearing? >> everybody was scrambling. the shooting was coming from all directions. >> katherine new her boys have been headed towards the department store. amid all the noise and commotion, she managed to call them and yell out a quick warning. i >> said, don't come out of the store. they're shooting. go, run, hide. do not come out. >> katherine knew the situation was dangerous. extremely dangerous. but at least she had some cover. >> faith wambua and her kids were also trapped on the ground floor, but cowering out in the open. exposed to the gunman stalking their victims. >> i'm telling the kids to lie down. but now there is this continuous loud sound. and that is when i knew there was shooting. and i thought, oh oh.

wrong choice of hiding place. i remember my daughter at one point asked me, mom, was this the best place we could? hi >> the assault continued. >> you're not hearing just one gun -- >> no, it sounded like it was all over. of course, in the building, it was just echoing, reverberating. >> so you can actually look up and see other floors? >> where i was laying, i could see across and up the different levels. it was just chaos. >> what's the smell like? >> the whole mall was cloudy and just smoke everywhere. gunpowder, burning, smell. >> did any of them come anywhere near you? >> i saw two of them. they walked from the main entrance in front of the line of stores that were directly in front of us. >> hold on, what did you see? you saw their feet go by? >> no, i saw them. i saw two hole men. you know, they were 50 yards, 30 yards away. i don't know.

>> what did they look like? >> they had tan angry clothing. and they were carrying very, very large weapons. very large guns. >> hearing the gunfire and screens echoing through them all, both katherine and faith could tell the gunmen were spreading out, killing people as they went along. two mothers trapped with young children, worried they'd be next. and a growing fear seized catherine. her boys were no longer and three in their phone. where were they? >> coming up -- the terrifying uncertainty for those inside the mall and loved ones outside. >> i was a will come by the phone call. your wife and sons are in there and they are separated. >> sun, a friend of katherine's who's been texting with her, would go from worry to frantic. >> when she said that, my heart just sunk. >> when dateline continues. with dupixent adults saw long-lasting, clearer skin

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>> armed men stormed into the westgate mall in nairobi, kenya, firing round after fatal round. catherine walton was hunkered down near where the shooting had started, crouched in a small kiosk with a stranger and her three young daughters. she was desperately worried about her sons who were somewhere out there, but she had to focus on keeping her

daughters quiet so they wouldn't attract attention. >> are you hiding from the gunman? >> yet, we were laying down on the ground, trying to hide from them so they couldn't see us. portia kept her fingers in her ears. gigi later there and said, mom, my blanket. my mouth, my flashlight. she sleeps with those three things every night. she said she wanted her brothers, and i told her that we see them later. >> katherine could only hope that was true. half a world away, a phone rang in a hotel in north carolina. katherine's husband, phillip, it tech entrepreneur, gone back to the u.s. for business meetings leaving his wife alone in nairobi with their five kids. >> i got woken up at about 6 am by a phone call from paul weaver, who is our family friend. i knew it was not good. >> do you remember what he said? >> there's an attack going on at west gate and your wife and sons are in there, and they are

separated. >> that's a call you don't want to make. >> paul weaver, the walton family friend, had been at home recovering from surgery when he got an urgent text from catherine. >> what time to the first must come in? >> it came in at 12:52. >> what does she say? >> she said pray, shooting in west gate, hiding. >> that's a message. >> it blew me away. erode her back, really? she said, yes, i don't know where the boys are. she said find blaise. >> paul texted the's oldest son blaise, but he didn't answer. >> i started looking on the internet. someone put out a statement of facebook saying don't call anybody because when the phone rings, people are getting shot on their phone rings. >> paul didn't call, but stayed in touch with katherine their text messages. her lifeline to the outside world. >> i sent a text, get me out of here. i really thought he could, but i was just desperate. >> when she sent that, my heart sunk. >> katherine didn't text her

husband, phillip, because she knew he was too far away to do anything and knew she'd only panic him. back in north carolina, all the lip could do is wait. it was 6 am and news of the attack hadn't hit the u.s. yet. >> i'm trying to imagine the feeling of getting that phone call and being so far away. >> helplessness is a pretty accurate word. you know, there is nothing you could do. i was worried the girls would scream uncontrollably panicking and drawing attention. >> exactly what katherine was trying to prevent the girls from doing. >> i kept telling them to stay little, stay very quiet, and the kenyan that was with portia kept putting her and soothing her. and gigi was curled up in a little ball. her breathing was so quiet and so shallow, i kept rubbing her back, and touching her because i was like, maybe she is hurt

and i don't realize it. >> cramped in her hiding spot, she was desperate to reach her boys after trying and trying, she finally got through again. >> i was able to send a text. it said, are you okay? and he told me they were okay. that they were safe. >> you thought your boys had gotten out? >> i did. when he told me they were safe, i thought they had gotten out. >> but they hadn't. the walton boys were hiding in the back of the nakima store. the cell phone video captured the battlefield store became. the aisles wear a bullet riddled maze, shoppers were stunned. some drawing fire, and now they were gunman headed toward's sons. faith was the other mother trapped in this nightmare. she had her two young children with her and was worried about controlling her toddler son. they heard gunfire all around

them. >> i feel bad right now because i was lying on him, trying to shield him at one point and i said, my goodness, lying on this floor and i'm pressing down on his back, he must be so uncomfortable. at that point, it's when i put my fingers in his mouth. you know, hoping to give him something to suck on. >> it remained like that, frozen in place, first four minutes, then for an hour. she was terrified her son would start crying, and give them away. >> i can see his face, you know, creasing into a cry. and i know, my goodness, he's going to cry. this is it. >> coming up, faith makes a fateful choice. >> i thought now, our cover has been blown. >> while our other, mom katherine, becomes terrified that she and her girls are moments away from being discovered. >> i knew it was as those men came around behind us that they could see us. >> when dateline continues.

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in her makeshift hiding spot, on the main floor of the mall. an hour into the attack, she was still trying to keep her three restless daughters contained under that flimsy table. their only protection from the roaming gunmen. it was a job that got harder as the mueller got quieter.

>> there was a hello -- and petra picked up the flown and try to play. they and gigi was trying to take it away from her. and the shooting started it again. one of them picked up through the phone. i couldn't text anybody. i >> for a couple hours there i was texting her, and then no more texting came. other people started calling me and saying, this is really bad. we've seen pictures of people being killed. >> and she's not responding >>? >> no. >> just down the corridor, another mother struggle to keep her children quiet. >> and you're thinking about your survival. also thinking you can run to some area where it's safe. >> but there was nowhere else for faith and her children to go. she told them being quiet was an enough. she made an incredible decision. they would all play dead. her the nine year old daughter could understand how important it was to stay still.

amazingly, her son then to, seemed to sense it as well. he didn't move. except for an occasional blink. men with machine guns scoured every inch of them all. >> we were right next to a corridor where they could hear we could hear them passing from time to time. but there is no way i was going to change my position. >> and the minutes dragged into hours, knowing her son my sister at any moment, faith was relieved when he dozed off for a bit. >> he was lying there on the ground. no snoring. i didn't know whether he was alive, because when -- an unusual way to sleep. >> hot, cramped with numb limbs, faith urged her kids to fight the needed to move. >> my daughter, whenever i felt like she was twitching or changing position, because my hand was on her arm. i would just squeeze a little bit and she understood that meant stay still. >> but then two year old ty

woke up. faith wondered whether how long he could hold on. she took a chance and played a game. she pretended glass and cement were to keep him distracted. >> i said he really likes insects. he was so fascinated. >> the gunmen continue to brees and lead stroll them all force followers looking for victims. catherine was worry they would finally see her and the girls. after all, she was seeing the gunmen. >> when they walk by you where they shooting? >> no. they were walking very slow. they almost had a demeanor like they owned the place. like they knew they were in control. >> did they see you? >> they looked my direction. i knew that if those men came around behind us that they could see us. >> those men had already killed dozens of shoppers. in this video captured by a security camera, a wounded person is prodded by a terrorists. other parts too graphic to broadcast, show the gunmen

callously shooting people throughout the mall. even the injured. as the siege drag on. the outside world is beginning to get some idea of how terrible it was. >> good evening, loud explosions were heard tonight in the canyon capital of nairobi. >> those still trapped inside the mall couldn't know they were part of a terrorist attack. faith wambua and her two kids remained absolutely still. it was their only chance for survival. but her mind raced. >> thinking about my husband. where is he? how could he get to know about this incident. i'm wondering will my children get shot? will i get shot at my children have no mother after this? >> faith was determined to protect her children at any cost. i >> remember at some point i was covering the children, my son's head and my daughter's head and i said, any bill it would have to pass through me first before gets these children. >> faith and her children have

been flat on the floor for a full three and a half hours. when suddenly, she heard something. >> we had heard voices from above us, higher floors. asking us to get up. mother, mother with a children. you down there with a children. i knew that they were addressing. me immediately we got up on to our needs trying to get up to go. the shooting started again. >> she thought by moving, she had drawn attention to herself. >> we were scared at first because we thought now, our cover has been blown. because now they know that we are really not dead. >> faith didn't trust anyone now. so when a man approached, she was sure it was in good. >> and that's when i felt somebody touching me and you know, they've come for us. because now they know we are a life. so, we just laid down there and i remember telling my daughter, be quiet. >> faith has to make a split second decision. their lives depend on. should she trust the man

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what's happening. tuesday marks one year since george floyd was murdered. marches and rallies held across the country to honor his memory. president biden will host the floyd family at the white house on tuesday. the president urging congress to pass a police reform bill in his name. the george floyd justice in policing act was approved by the democratic led house in march. is yet to receive a vote in the senate. the bill aims to end certain police techniques including chokeholds. back to dateline. to dateline ♪ ♪ ♪ >> hello and welcome back to

dateline. i'm craig melvin. gunman had taken over the west gate mall in the kenyan capitol and they were patrolling the building. searching for more victims. the two mothers and our story, both hiding with their children were hoping that their time was not running out. here is tate snow. >> for three and a half hours after armed gunmen stormed the west gate mall, two mothers had been trapped. catherine walton coached recovered with three young daughters under a temporary kiosk, gunman patrolling nearby and faith wambua, she and her two young children had played dead all that time. they moved once and were instantly shot at. a man approached them, faith held her position. but he wasn't a terrorist. it was a police officer. >> baby, baby, touching my daughter. baby, baby. are you okay? are you okay? and i said, wow. in my mind i'm thinking this must be a good price, and

finding out if we are okay. are we alive, are we okay. then he said it's safe. it's safe. it's the police. >> her nine-year-old daughter sy was the first to move. >> my daughter put up her head, not quite hesitant and ask him, are you with the bad guys? because, i mean, i was looking down. i was scared i thought now we've come where we are, so my daughter really put her head up. he told her to go back down, engage the policeman in a conversation. are you bad people? and said, mom, look up. >> and almost against her instincts, faith began to trust. >> when i looked, up i'd seen his civilian jacket. i didn't know who he was, i wasn't going to trust someone based off a uniform. and he, as he sat up, i saw his shirt. i was able to recognize the uniform. and then he said, it's fine. i'm going to lead you to safety. get up. >> desperately afraid to move,

faith agreed it was time to make a run for it. still worried that gunfire would erupt again. faith slowly got up and crept toward the exit with her children. >> i remember seeing a body lying there on the steps as we run out but i said, i'm focusing on where we are going. there was this policeman, one carrying my daughter, was running too fast and was way ahead. the one with my son was lagging behind and i'm thinking, don't separate us! i kept saying, my son! my son! >> after all those hours for us to keep our children quiet, they were finally out. >> i'm crying now because i'm free, you know? all these tears of joy. >> in his hotel room, 6000 miles away in charlotte, philip walton could only hope his story would have such a happy ending. he was coming through kenya news reports, he saw on social media. >> one specifically where they said somebody had just seen them bring a child's body out

and in a shopping cart. and they said it was a five or six year old little boy. and i thought to myself, well, i don't think anybody would confuse our boys for being five or six, but could they confuse one of our girls for being a little boy? and that piece of news was very traumatic to me. >> and agony, and alone, he prayed and started playing one song over and over in his mind. >> i think we do have a measure of grace that comes to us in difficult times. for me, it was a u2 song in the back of my head, it was called 40, from the 40th song and i started reading that song over and over again, and it was exactly what i needed to hear, and so it took a lot of comfort from that. >> it's got that great -- i know the song. >> it's an awesome song. >> hello mom, just sing the song. >> exactly.

it became the inspiration of hope, it gave me something to pray about during the time that i didn't know what was going on. >> he was comforted by his fate, but it was impossible not to worry. by now, he knew what his wife didn't. >> she's injured! behind. there >> is entire family was caught in a carefully coordinated full-blown terrorist attack. >> you think the worst. you know? when you know these are terrorists and you know their intent is not to steal something and get out of there, but it's to kill people. and you know they're intent is to hurt christians, you know? their intent is to try and disrupt our way of life in kenya. you know, the realities of what that could mean are very

present. >> he had no way of knowing whether his family was alive or not. no way of knowing that soon, some of his prayers would be answered. >> coming up, philip and katherine's son is trapped in the most violent part of the mall, and a 14 year old realizes it's up to him to protect his younger brother. >> i just thought even first, save him, me second. >> when dateline continues. line continues

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the world watch in horror as a terrorist attack on nairobi's westgate mall on folded. many were still stuck inside with a little communication to the outside. phillip walton was in the u.s., far from his home in kenya, when he learned his wife and children among those in the building. all he could do was wait and pray. here is kate snow. >> three hours had passed since phillip walton was awakened by a call telling him his family was trapped inside the westgate mall, pinned down by gunfire. he'd been on his computer all morning, checking for updates. then suddenly he received a facebook message from a friend with the freeze frame a video.

and there, in the bottom right hand corner was an unmistakable sight. his two sons alive and outside the mall. >> it was my two sons standing with my business partner. who is a very big, very noticeable man. >> paul weaver race down to the malaria and confirm the picture was real. the boys were out. >> just seeing them. i don't think there's any bigger hugs in the world. it was joy by, at the same time seeing the anguish in their face. and blaise just sat on the floor and lay his head down. it was just all the emotions coming through. it was one of the greatest moments and one of the saddest moments at the same time. >> a joyful moment for phillip, knowing his boys were family safe. but to brief because he knew his wife and three young daughters were still trapped in that mall. the walton blaise and ian, had endured feet three and a half hours in the most dangerous area. in the department store where

terrorist hunted down innocent victims. terrifying for anyone, but especially for two boys, separated from their mother. this is blaise walton. it was difficult for him to recount the story of what happened to him and his brother. but he wanted to tell it starting from the beginning. the two brothers had just paid and we're still standing at the checkout line when they saw something strange. and was the first thing you hear that's weird? >> everybody looks to the main entrance. and we all looked as well. then a loud sound happens and three people go flying and that's when people realize what is going on. and they run. >> three people flying into the air? >> they just fell backwards. it was scary. >> did you think it was a bomb or something? >> i thought it was a bomb at first. but then when i heard the two gunfire sounds, i knew it was in just a bomb.

it was something else. >> he knew he had to protect himself. and more than that, he knew he was responsible for his younger brother. you grabbed your brother? >> yeah. >> as fast as you could? >> yeah. and just ran. >> were you pushing him? >> yes. >> you didn't want him to see it? >> no. >> that's hard for -- it would be hard for me a grown-up. at 14, that's pretty darn hard. >> it really is. >> blaise clutching his brother ian, raced away from the gunfire with just one thought. >> i just thought ian first, save him. the second. >> you headed towards the back of the store? >> other people at that time were rushing back so we followed the crowd. >> they made it to a store room at the back of the store. others were hiding their two, including an american mother with her own kids. without katherine to comfort them, the boys stayed with that mother.

blaise hoped they were far enough away from the terrorist, but they weren't. surveillance videos shows the terrorist made it all the way to the back, hunting for more victims. but this wise 14 year old did something ingenious. >> i finally just pulled ian aside, sat him down beside some flower. >> so unlike a barricade of flower bags? >> yes, we pull toilet paper on top of our head so nobody would see us. >> why did you do that? >> because we didn't know if people v. walking back and looking for us. so, we just pulled all stops. >> ten year old ian walton remembers how scared he was. did you see any of the bad guys? >> no. but it did seem like someone closed the gate to where we were. and it seemed like they were trying to shoot through it and. things were blowing up, but it never got through. >> you heard a lot of loud sounds? >> yeah. >> and you said you are back

there how long? >> three and a half hours. >> you thought about it a little bit? >> when you were there i, know if it were me i would've been really really scared. were you pretty pretty scared? >> my brother and me prayed for a war family and just laid there. >> they lay their and listened. >> and every once in a while we would hear gunfire, grenade sounds. and at one point, these people came and said were the police. it's okay. >> the gunfire the walton boys had been hearing briefly pause. those voices identifying themselves as police were encouraging people to come out. around him, blaise heard people start moving. they >> walked out and in about 15 seconds you just heard loud machine gunfire for about 30 seconds. and then it was just quiet. >> so it was the bad guys luring them out? so you stayed where you were. >> yeah, the lady we were with

she told us what to do every step of the way. without her i think me and my brother would've gone out with a crowd. so, thanks to her we were still alive. >> the walton boys were holed up in the back room when eventually police were able to break down a door and get people out. the security camera shows the chaos and the crowd after being released. look closely, there's blaise in his redshirt and ian with his backpack, free after three and a half hours of being trapped. relief washed over phillip walton when he saw his boys in the image his friend sent him. at least his sons were okay. i >> remember thinking at that time, at least i won't be alone. i remember thinking, however this a day is at least the boys and i will have each other if it turns out worse than we would hope or imagine. >> his wife, katherine, was

still trapped under that tiny table with the three girls. and now things we're looking worse. a man with a gun was headed their way. >> coming up. just who was he. and then, a daring escape from an unlikely hero. >> i tell the lady, now! >> what happened next amaze the world. when dateline continues. now, simparica trio simplifies protection. ticks and fleas? see ya! heartworm disease? no way! simparica trio is the first chewable that delivers all this protection. and simparica trio is demonstrated safe for puppies. it's simple: go with simparica trio. this drug class has been associated with neurologic adverse reactions,

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the walton boys had made it out of the west gate mall which was still a scene of terror. but their mother, katherine, and her three girls, were still trapped inside, and then, a man holding a gun approached them. the next moments would be critical. here is kate snow with the conclusion of our story. >> for more than four hours, katherine walton, her girls, and the canyon woman helping them, huddled in a hiding space barely bigger than a bathtub closed off from the outside world. katherine didn't know she was part of a terrorist attack. all she knew was that gunman were convincing the mall, shooting it everyone. and now, a man with a gun was creeping toward her. >> you run to that table for hours. at some point, you hear something, you see something? >> i think there was a bit of commotion, and the kenyan woman said the cops are here.

>> but it wasn't the police. it was a canyon man named abdul haji, the businessmen and father of four had received a text message from his brother earlier that morning. >> the message was very brief. that red, at west gate, terrorist, pray for me. >> abdul haji boulder to the mall and was stunned by what he saw when he got there. carnage, everywhere. he was terrified for his brother, who works for the canyon intelligence service and had received death threats from al-shabaab, the same terror group that is now attacking the mall. >> at this point in time, the magnitude of the whole situation dawned on me. >> security forces were just arriving, and abdul who is licensed to carry a gun, decided in an instant to join them. they entered the mall from the parking garage on the top floor. abdul's brother was still in the mall and actually not far from catherine walton and her girls on the main floor.

he was hiding in the bathroom. abdul worked his way down to the main floor, and as he did, his brother managed to escape. >> i reached out to my phone to try and call him, and i see this message on my screen saying, i'm out, i'm safe. please come out. >> but abdul haji didn't come out. despite the gruesome scene, the blood, the bodies, the smell of smoke and constant gunfire, he decided to stay and help. a dual searched through the mall, looking for victims. then he made a discovery that shocked him. >> i looked down, and i see somebody hiding behind a table. it was a lady. she looked very scared. and i'm thinking, she was right in the middle of the cross fire. >> katherine spotted abdul as well, but sensed he wasn't a threat. >> how did you know they weren't terrorists? >> they weren't carrying the large guns we had seen, that the terrorist had. >> with just a few words

between them, katherine walton and abdul haji quickly coordinated an exit strategy. >> opened fire towards the door, just to scare the tourists away. >> then it was time. >> then we hold fire, and then i tell the lady, now! and suddenly, this young gun appears out of nowhere, and i call to her to run towards, me and she starts running and immediately i'm thinking what a brave girl. >> when portia got up and ran, did you have a moment where you thought, my god? >> i think i realized it was precarious, but i was also trusting that if they were telling us to run, that it was safe. >> for katherine, it was a gigantic leap of faith after shielding her daughters for four and a half hours. she knew that, to save, them she would have to let them go. the image of four year old portia running to abdul haji was one no one would soon

forget. katherine wasn't far behind, and they weren't alone. these images show the terror on the faces of others being rescued by the police in those same moments. their desperation to be free. in north carolina, philip got a phone call from his business partner, eric. >> i got confirmation that he was in there with them. that they were all safe. >> your whole family? >> yes. i broke down and cried. yes. and then you can let go, you know? you can just kind of collapse. >> later, a picture followed. his wife and children trapped in that mall for hours in terror right now in the safety of a friends house, together. >> simply the most precious thing i could even imagine, to see all of them sitting there in the safety and know they had come through it. >> philip grab the first flight back to kenya.

>> must at felt really good when he got off the plane? >> it was very good because, you know, as a mom, one dad is not around, you feel like you have to keep it together, and you've got to be strong. >> and the kids were excited to see him? they had been asking. >> they were relieved to finally be able to touch him and hug him and have that extra security. >> these images show the devastation and destruction of the west gate mall, ravaged by a siege that dragged on for four days. terrorists with links to al-qaeda claimed responsibility, and the kenyan government said, at least 67 people died. for the survivors, it was difficult to make sense of it all, to move on. faith wambua went home, hugged her husband, and two days after the attack there was cause for celebration and time for reflection. >> for our children being alive.

i'm grateful to be reunited with my husband. i never thought i'd see our second anniversary, but we did. this incident brought us more closer. we don't want to leave each other's side. >> face and her children were reunited with that police officer who reached out to her on that terrible day, grateful he risked his life to save theirs. >> welcome home! i remember that sound. >> the walton said they were grateful for friends, new and old. especially young portia, who beamed when we showed her a picture of her rescuer on a smartphone. >> is that mr. haji? what did he do? >> he saved us! >> he saved you! >> how are you? >> good, how are you? >> nice to see you. >> three days after the worst day of their lives, the walton's were reunited with their hero. >> how are you? >> abdul haji is himself a

father and a muslim. it's not lost on him that he is forever linked to a christian family who chose to live in kenya. >> that's what humanity is all about. it happened i was muslim and there were christians. at that time, but i was seeing was a little girl and her mother. i was not seeing what religion that person was. >> lots of emotions. >> as we've been able to tell the story, spent time with haji, and to see the courage of a man like that, it's an inspiration for me. >> and blaise walton said he had a new perspective. >> you've seen the worst of humanity, and the best of humanity. >> same day. just a miracle to be able to live both of those and one day. >> and four katherine and her children, as dismal and as dark as the events in that mall were, she refused to do anything but grow and be positive for herself and her family. >> i don't want them to come out of this and hate or be

angry about what happened. >> it would be easy to be angry? >> it would be very easy to be angry. i don't want them to see the bad part of it. i want them to turn that bad situation into something positive. >> that's all for this edition of dateline, i'm craig melvin. thank you for watching. >> i'm craig melvin. >> and i'm natalie morales. >> and this is dateline. >> how do you feel that so many people think stephen avery is innocent? >> it's emotional. >> they made him look like he was a nice person? what's happening is wrong, the evidence is beyond overwhelming. stephen avery is guilty. >> i'm innocent. >> the story gripped the nation in a serious making a murderer. >> so many americans have learned about it. >> it's being heard by people around