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SHEBOYGAN- A long awaited homecoming for a Sheboygan County girl, caught in the Colorado movie theater crossfire.

It may have happened a thousand miles away from the Sheboygan County Village of Cascade, but Friday's shooting hits close to home.

Katie Trakel is one of the 700 people who live in that village, and was one of the people in the line of fire that fateful night.  She made it out, and her friends and neighbors want to make sure she knows how happy they are that she's coming home.

Tori Jones went to Plymouth High School with Katie Trakel.  Katie was in the theater next to the one where James Holmes opened fire in Aurora, Colorado Friday.  It's been the talk of the town ever since.

"For her to get caught up in something this big, it shocked everyone," said Jones.  "When I found out Katie was involved, I'm like oh my god, no way."

Katie Trakel made it out without a scratch.  But her friend, Gage, was shot in the arm when a bullet passed through a wall.  Katie, who was in Colorado for a conference with her family, stayed there through the weekend with a plan to come back late Monday night.

Her friends wanted to make sure she knows just how much they've been thinking about her, with a welcome home banner and a heart on her garage door.

"She's a real sweetheart, she's nice to everyone," said Jones.

Katie Trakel spoke with TODAY'S TMJ4's Annie Scholz on the phone in the aftermath of it all. 

Annie Scholz reports Katie was brave beyond her 15 years, saying she was just looking forward to seeing her friend get out of the hospital -- as an entire town looks forward to seeing Katie and her family make it home safe and sound.

"I just want to wish them the best, it's something really hard that no one should have to experience," said Jones.