Wednesday marks one year since the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. Police there say an 18 year old gunman killed 19 students and two teachers before he was shot and killed by authorities.
The anniversary in Uvalde comes as a memorial to victims of the shooting outside Allen Premium Outlets has been dismantled. Volunteers had been keeping watch over cards, candles and crosses; the materials were boxed up and shared with families last week.
"We're still a community," one woman said after saying a prayer at the site.
"We may be separate names, but we're all one," her husband said.
Even with the memorial taken down, people stopping by said they hope others will keep working to support each other.
"We don't want it to just end in three weeks," one woman said. "When 9/11 hit, people flocked to the churches for about three weeks and then it all went back to normal. We can't go back to normal. This changes our lives and our hearts."
Allen Premium Outlets will stay closed at least through Sunday, May 29. The owners have not set a date to reopen.
"As a proud member of the Allen community, we continue to grieve for the eight innocent lives lost, their families, those who were injured, and all who are struggling in the face of this tragedy," the center posted on its website. "As we move forward, the needs of our retailers and our community will guide when and how we reopen the center."
In Uvalde, the city is not planning a formal ceremony to mark the anniversary. The mayor has said he wants to give residents space and privacy to reflect on the past year.
The Uvalde City Council has cancelled a regularly scheduled meeting this week. Students in Uvalde CISD are attending class Monday, but classes are cancelled the rest of the week.
Uvalde CISD says staff will return Friday and Uvalde High School's graduation will take place Friday.
"The Uvalde C.I.S.D. Board of Trustees and Interim Superintendent Mr. Patterson, have profound respect for the one-year mark and a focus on the safety of our students and staff. Thank you for your patience and support as we prepare to observe the one-year mark of our tragedy," the district posted on its website.
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