(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- It’s been four years since tragedy struck the City of Aurora.
On February 15, 2019, a disgruntled worker opened fire at the Henry Pratt Company, killing five employees. Five Aurora police officers were also injured during their confrontation with the gunman, who died following a shootout with authorities.
To honor the victims, Aurora held a memorial service Wednesday morning.
“We never forget who was impacted, how it changed us and why we must make sure we take this time to honor those who are gone far too soon,” said Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin.
Some of the victims’ family members placed roses and lit candles at five crosses memorializing their loved ones: Trevor Wehner, Clayton Parks, Russell Beyer, Vicente Juarez and Josh Pinkard.
“It was a day of sorrow,” said long-time Pratt employee Anita Lewis. “Not just did we lose these five, but it felt like we lost much of our innocence here in Aurora. The world just became a darker place that day.”
While the ceremony served as a time of remembrance and reflection, Mayor Irvin said it’s also a reminder of a community coming together.
“How the City of Lights became Aurora Strong, which has become more than a mantra, but a way of life that has become interwoven in the very fabric of our great city,” Irvin added.
A special bench that was made to honor the victims currently resides in the William Tanner House Museum, but officials say it will be relocated to a more public space later this year.
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