Community comes together to comfort each other and mourn victims of Georgia school shooting
Two days after a 14-year-old student allegedly shot and killed two classmates and two teachers at Apalachee High School in Winder, a still-grieving community gathered to put its collective arms around each other.
MONROE, Ga. — Two days after a 14-year-old student allegedly shot and killed two classmates and two teachers at Apalachee High School in Winder, a grieving community gathered to put its collective arms around one another.
Officials at neighboring Monroe Area High School volunteered its sprawling campus to host a vigil Friday, and thousands of people — many not even connected to the victims or Apalachee High — shed tears and embraced the memory of the fallen students and educators.
Rain forced the vigil to be moved inside the school’s gym and the bleachers were soon packed. The 48-minute event, which featured several religious leaders — including Tommy Fountain Sr., pastor at 1025 Church in Monroe — was mostly upbeat, but also emotional, with many attendees stepping out of the gymnasium to shed their tears. Others cried where they sat.
Community members come together for a vigil in Monroe, Ga., on Friday for the victims of the shooting at Apalachee High School.Megan Varner / Getty ImagesIn both cases, people immediately came to their comfort with hugs and encouraging words.
With tears streaming down her face, Pamela Parks, a high school counselor in nearby Gwinnett County, said she was drawn to the vigil because of the nature of the tragedy.
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