Kalamazoo remembers mass shooting that killed 6
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — A year later, people gathered with ribbons, candles and memories to shine lights on the victims who were killed by the darkness.
About 400 people attended a vigil Monday in Kalamazoo, Mich., to remember and honor the victims of the Kalamazoo mass shooting Feb. 20, 2016.
“What began as a dark evening,” Pastor Paul Fazio, of North Park Reformed Church, told the audience gathered at Wings Event Center, “over the last year the darkness has begun to break because of the light of the victims. They may be gone but their hearts beat.”
The 90-minute program included words from family members of some of the victims as well as community and law enforcement officials.
The ForeverStrong Memorial Foundation also announced plans to construct a complex to honor the victims and include soccer fields, playgrounds and a memorial for each of the victims. A portion of the memorial also will be in Battle Creek, Mich. The project may take years to complete.
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Six people were killed: Barbara Hawthorne, 68, Mary Jo Nye, 60, Judy Brown, 74, Mary Lou Nye, 60, Richard Smith, 53, and his son, Tyler, 17. Two were injured, Abigail Kopf, now 15, and Tiana Carruthers, 26.
Jason Dalton, 46, of Kalamazoo, is charged with six counts of first-degree murder, two counts of assault with intent to murder and eight counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Dalton's attorney, Eusebio Solis, has notified the court he plans to pursue an insanity defense and a hearing is scheduled in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court when Solis is expected to challenge the introduction of statements Dalton made to police after his arrest.
Police have said Dalton told them a devil figure on his Uber app was controlling him.
Dalton’s name was never mentioned from the podium Monday night. Instead the program not only remembered the victims and the night a year ago but also what happened in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek since that night.
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“We cry our hearts out thinking about the victims,” said U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich. “We are not going to forget them, we are going to walk with a better step.”
Family members, such as Jeff Reynolds, one of the sons of Judy Brown, thanked the first responders and the support from both Battle Creek and Kalamazoo.
“It is you people who made me proud to call Battle Creek, Kalamazoo and Michigan my hometown and my home state.”
He remembers his mother as a vibrant woman, always ready with a hug and a smile and caring word.
“She would never want this much attention but sorry, Mom, but it is time to honor you and the other victims and families.”
Kalamazoo Mayor Bobby Hopewell pledged to continue standing with the families of the victims.
"We stand with you today, tomorrow and every day. We are with you," he said.
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Shelly Hawthorne, a niece of Barbara Hawthorne, said she misses her aunt every day.
“We want you to know she was much more than someone killed that night,” she said. “It is up to us to keep her legacy and the other victims’ memories alive.”
Laurie Smith, the wife and mother of two victims, said her family now includes people she does not know.
“Without family I don’t know what I would do. But there are people I don’t even know; you are my family.
“We shall all be forever strong,” she said, as the center stood and applauded.
Follow Trace Christenson on Twitter: @TSChristenson
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