Decision To Unpack Boxes Keeps Former Sacramento Woman From Paris Terrorist Attacks

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A longtime Sacramento resident who recently moved to Paris was less than a mile away from the stadium where one of the explosions went off during a series of terrorist attacks on Friday.

The French national soccer team was playing a friendly against Germany with 80,000 fans in the stands.

Sophie Lambert has only been in Paris for two weeks, and is still trying to get out of moving boxes. It's a decision about those boxes that kept her out of harm's way.

"We were actually going to buy tickets to go see that soccer match and we said no, we have to move tomorrow, so let's just not go and just watch it on TV," she said.

It's a change in plans that may have saved Lambert's life.

"Everybody is in shock. I'm in shock right now. I'm really shaky right now. I don't know what to think," she said.

Investigators say at least 153 people were killed in a coordinated terrorist attack at sites throughout the French capital, and at the stadium where the soccer match was underway.

In a panic, Lambert's sister and 9-year-old nephew called her from inside as officials evacuated some 80,000 fans.

"They're telling everyone to stay home. So, this was probably not a smart move but I had to—I couldn't think to leave her," she said.

Leaving for Paris is what Lambert did just two weeks ago. After 17 years in Sacramento, she packed up her things and her beloved dogs for a job at Intel.

She says the terrorist attack so soon after her arrival doesn't make her scared. It makes her angry.

"The shakes that I'm having is probably being pissed off, anger. That people are doing this to us. They are attacking our freedom," she said.

But with a state of emergency still in place across France, Lambert says she won't let fear win.

"I'm still going to go to work on Monday. I'm still going to get on the subway. I'm still going to do what I have to do," she said.