When Alice Riuppert read aloud the ten names of the people killed in the Monday mass shooting at King Soopers, the rain began to fall on those gathered at Loomiller Park.
As the drops rippled across a pond where roughly 50 people gathered to form a circle at the water’s edge, Riuppert read a short biography about each of those who died. Bowing their heads and protecting the flickering flames of their candles against the rain, the group stood sentry, remembering the grocery store workers, moms, soon-to-be-grandparent and business owners whose lives were cut short.
The ceremony was part of a memorial to honor those killed and their families. Shari Malloy, a Longmont resident, hosted the memorial with the goal to give her community the chance to remember those who died.
On Monday, Boulder police received numerous 911 calls about 2:40 p.m. reporting an active shooting at the King Soopers. A suspect was taken into custody and identified earlier this week by Boulder police Chief Maris Herold. The man now faces 10 counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
“We have so many of these (tragedies), but this one is very personal,” Malloy said. “When I see the images from Atlanta (where a shooting occurred March 16) it’s sad but I don’t recognize the locations. Here, we’ve all been to our own King Soopers and probably that one, too. I know I have.”
Malloy said her son attended school at the University of Colorado Boulder and used to live near the King Soopers at 3600 Table Mesa Drive. In addition to shopping there, she said that occasionally she and her son would meet in the store parking lot before they hiked together.
Those who gathered in the Longmont park Friday night held candles and signs bearing the names of the people killed:
- Denny Stong, 20
- Neven Stanisic, 23
- Rikki Olds, 25
- Tralona Bartkowiak, 49
- Teri Leiker, 51
- Eric Talley, 51
- Suzanne Fountain, 59
- Kevin Mahoney, 61
- Lynn Murray, 62
- Jody Waters, 65
As they mourned, some who attended questioned why they’ve had to see so many of these tragedies playing out in communities across the nation.
Father Teri Harroun, of Light of Christ Ecumenical Catholic Community, read a poem titled “Once Again.”
“Once again we grieve, we ponder that some waited in a parking lot for a phone call that’s never going to happen,” Harroun read. “Once again.”
Joy Knoppel, who moved to Longmont from Chicago late last year, expressed sadness and frustration at the tragedy.
“There’s not a lot of stuff out there about gun reform right now which I’m frustrated by,” Knoppel said. “As someone who’s a Chinese-American, I think these shootings are just going to keep happening until we solve the base problem. I see it as a big wound we have, and we just keep putting Band-Aids over it. I think it’s important for us to recognize and take time to mourn those we’ve lost and then after that go and make better choices.”
Others reflected on those lost.
Standing side by side, Jean Hultkrans and Doug Felkley held candles, each with a flame flickering against the dusk. Jean Hultkrans, of Longmont was a friend of Fountain.
“(She was) truly one of the most present, welcoming people I have ever met,” Hultkrans said. “So, this is in honor of her and the others. We just have felt really crushed this whole week.”
Felkley said he thinks that he met Officer Talley. Felkley said while working for a Boulder gymnastics program, he believes Talley responded to check in when the program held an overnight sleepover for kids at the recreation center.
“We would always have a police officer on hand until midnight or so for the kids to get to know the police and for the presence to be there,” Felkley said. “I think he was there at one of those events. If my memory is correct, he was really good with the kids.”
Malloy said she hoped the memorial offered a chance to bring people together.
“I believe we are hard wired as human beings for caring and connection,” Malloy said. “Having opportunities to tap into that and just feel our fear, and pain, and sadness and anger and hold the space for one another and our sister city Boulder, the first responders, the employees … everybody — it’s about holding that space and sending love.”
The Link LonkMarch 27, 2021 at 10:41AM
https://www.timescall.com/2021/03/26/longmont-residents-gather-to-send-love-to-boulder-honor-victims-of-mass-shooting/
Longmont residents gather to ‘send love’ to Boulder, honor victims of mass shooting - Longmont Times-Call
https://news.google.com/search?q=Send&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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