KIRKWOOD, Mo — Hearts were heavy in Kirkwood Wednesday night, as members of the community remembered the 6 lives lost when a gunman stormed inside City Hall and went on a shooting rampage.
A candlelight vigil was held to remember the police officers, city employees and elected officials gunned down on that fateful night, ten years ago this week.
Hundreds gathered on the steps of City Hall.
Mary Beth Thompson said she’s still haunted by what happened inside those walls.
“I really can’t drive by here without thinking about it,” she said.
Her oldest son, Shane Thompson, was only seven when the shooting happened. He had met Officers Ballman and Biggs a few months before they were killed.
“It just meant a lot to come and for them to be here and remember them,” said Thompson.
Their candles were among the sea of light, illuminating faces on an otherwise dark and emotional night.
“We came together after that fatal February day and nurtured each other in large and small ways, through our grief,” Deputy Mayor Paul Ward told the crowd.
He also reminded those gathered that while great strides have been made, some of the division that existed in 2008, lingers today.
“We need to continue striving to make Kirkwood a more inclusive community,” said Ward.
Six candles were lit in honor of the fallen. At times, the wind made it difficult to light them. Fittingly, much like what this community has done for a decade, it became easier when they stood together to ignite the flame as one.
It was a lesson not lost on Shane Thompson.
“This world can be cruel sometimes but maybe with enough love and understanding we can erase this world of hatred,” he told us.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the crowd processed to the Memorial Walkway. It’s a permanent memorial to the six lives lost, ten years ago.
