CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin and Congresswoman Lauren Underwood paid tribute Monday to the five people killed in the mass shooting at the Henry Pratt Company two years ago.
Mayor Richard Irvin and Congresswoman Lauren Underwood each placed roses at the five crosses on display at the Aurora Historical Society Building. There’s a white cross for each of the Henry Pratt employees killed on Feb. 15, 2019: Russell Beyer, Vicente Juarez, Clayton Parks, Josh Pinkard, and Trevor Wehner.
Five police officers were also wounded in the tragedy.
The crosses and other artifacts are on display in the Aurora Historical Society's windows, 20 E. Downer Place. Currently closed due to COVID, the memorial presentation can be viewed from the sidewalk. The crosses were made by the late great Aurora resident Greg Zanis, who became famous for the 20,000 crosses he built for victims of violence worldwide. Zanis passed away last year.
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Mayor Irvin said the impact of that day cannot be overstated. The Mayor quietly told reporters that the deaths and the wounding of five police officers, changed everything in Aurora, but the community also came together.
“February 15, 2019 shook Aurora, but didn’t shatter Aurora,” said Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin. “It bruised Aurora, but it didn’t break Aurora. It didn’t leave us Aurora Scared. It made us Aurora Strong.”
The Congresswoman said lawmakers tried to pass laws expanding background checks and closing a loophole on sales; but the measures stalled in the U.S. Senate. She hopes the new balance in the Senate will help the bills pass this time around.
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Some family members of the five Henry Pratt employees killed in the mass shooting had visited memorial earlier.