NATCHEZ — Natchez resident Sue Burkhalter was on a regular routine doctor visit in Baltimore when she witnessed the civil unrest surrounding the death of Freddie Gray.

Burkhalter arrived in Baltimore Sunday for her visit at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Burkhalter’s friend, Andrea Lambuth-Brown, accompanied her during the trip.

However, Burkhalter was unaware of harsh protests that have plagued Baltimore since Saturday in reaction to the death of Gray, a 25-year-old black male who was arrested Sunday, April 12, 2015, by the Baltimore Police Department for possession of a switchblade.

By the time Gray arrived at the police station, following the arrest, he was suffering from spinal cord and larynx injuries, which would cause his death on Sunday, April 19, 2015.

The cause and circumstances of his injuries have yet to be determined.

Although peaceful protests were organized following Gray’s death, they would soon be joined by riots and violence.

Burkhalter said her day began Monday when she left the Hampton Inn Hotel to attend her first doctor’s appointment that morning, where she noticed several barricades.

“We talked to a taxi driver and he explained the situation,” Burkhalter said. “I got to my appointment, got out and we were heading back to the Hampton Hotel. But it was like you could sense something.”

Not long after Burkhalter’s feelings of cautiousness, she received a text message from her brother to be careful.

Burkhalter and Lambuth-Brown made it back to the hotel safely, where the two went to their room and saw protests and riots on TV.

“Everything was starting to close,” Burkhalter said. “I went next door to a restaurant to get food, but by the time I got food, they already locked the doors to the hotel.”

Burkhalter said at that point security guards began to fill the streets and the hotel manager had to let her inside.

But there was no going back out as the hotel was under full lockdown.

“I never felt like I was in danger,” Burkhalter said. “We weren’t in the middle of it. We were surrounded by it. But when they locked the hotel down that was kind of frightening. It was a very unnerving situation.”

Burkhalter managed to go to sleep around 1 a.m. despite continues police sirens.

When Burkhalter and Lambuth-Brown awoke Tuesday, the hotel was no longer under lock down. As Burkhalter stepped outside, she did not expect to see the results of a riot close to where she laid her head the night before.

“I walked next door to Dunkin’ Donuts and the whole front window was bashed,” she said. “The owners told me people had bashed in the glass and doors and pulled out cash registers.”

After talking with Betty Atkins, her cousin from Edgewater, Md., Burkhalter decided to rent a car and drive to Edgewater to spend the night.

Burkhalter walked about a mile to rent a car because everything, including shuttle services, was closed down.

Burkhalter said the walk was safe because the National Guard was on site.

“We spent the night in Edgewater and drove back to Baltimore Wednesday for my appointments,” Burkhalter said.

Burkhalter is now in route to Morgantown, W.Va., where she will meet her daughters and travel to Orlando.

But the short experience in Baltimore left Burkhalter puzzled about how one should handle a dire situation revolving the death of Gray.

“People need to keep their heads and keep their cool,” she said. “Going to the streets and looting businesses will not accomplish anything. I think it’s an embarrassment to the family and (Gray). It was really a great embarrassment for the people of Baltimore.”