At vigils, online, community rallies to support families of Raleigh mass shooting victims

About 200 community members gathered at the Willow Oak clubhouse. The event, planned weeks ago, was supposed to be a fall celebration, but instead it turned into a vigil.

The memorial was a chance for residents to bring flowers, say goodbye, support each other and learn more about resources available.

Residents held a moment of silence for all the victims and held hands supporting and uplifting each other through pain.

Devonte Godfrey was out of town when he heard the news. He rushed back home, where nothing in his neighborhood was the same.

“We were shocked by the news. You hear about stories like this happening all the time [but not] happening in our own backyard,” said Godfrey. “Coming back and seeing how it’s affected everybody. It’s been heartbreaking, but it's also encouraging to see people pulling together and comforting each other too.”

Counselors from Wake County's Alliance Behavioral Healthcare were on hand, and several local therapists volunteered to help and offer services for free, organizers said.

Crisis-trained chaplains with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team are spending the weekend in Hedingham, as was Solomon, a dog who provided a warm body to hug for those who needed it.

Later in the evening, Beacon Baptist Church on nearby Trawick Road held candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. to remember the tragic loss of life and everyone affected.

Resident Sue Van De Walker placed a candle.

“I feel like my heart needs to be here,” she said. “I am heartbroken over this whole thing – it is very sad.”

It can be healing in some way to watch the memorial grow as a way of telling devastated neighbors, “we're thinking of you.”

Another resident, Sade Dougal, stopped to grab a photo.

“I think it is beautiful because we have to memorialize the people whose lives were taken,” said Dougal.

The mass shooting did not just hit her community. It hit very close to home.

“It was right down the street from my house," said Dougal. "I am definitely overwhelmed.”

Scott Parillo also added to the memorial.

“It shows we are all here for each other,” said Parillo.

This sends a message that neighbors are not alone in their disbelief and grief, particularly for those who lost someone on that terrible day.

“I want to remember the victims, and more importantly, their families,” said Parillo. "I want to make sure they're remembered."

A visitor to the memorial told WRAL News she hoped the tragedy will spur discussion about a neighborhood watch in the community.

The residential and golf community in east Raleigh felt the focus of national attention after it was the site of an active shooter situation that lasted for hours Thursday night.

Victims in Raleigh's Hedingham shooting remembered for love, smiles, dog walks, big plans

Five people were killed and two injured in a rampage that started in the neighborhood along the Neuse River and ended miles away and hours later with the capture of a 15-year-old suspect.

His brother, James Thompson, was among the victims. Others were neighbors: Gabriel Torres, 29, a Raleigh police officer; Nicole Connors, 52; Susan Karnatz, 49; and Mary Marshall, 34.

Online fundraisers established to support the victims and their families saw thousands of dollars pour in over the first 48 hours.