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Vigil pays tribute for survivors of those killed during crimes

The North Carolina Victim's Assistance Network holds an event every year to remember not only the 600 plus homicide victims but to also raise awareness about the survivors, who are forced to live with the memories, the pain and the grief every single day after a loved one is killed.

Posted Updated

By
Amanda Lamb
, WRAL reporter
RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina Victim Assistance Network holds an event every year to remember not only the 600 plus homicide victims but to also raise awareness about the survivors, who are forced to live with the memories, the pain and the grief every single day after a loved one is killed.

Gov. Roy Cooper declared Nov. 20 to Dec. 20 as Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness month.

A third annual candlelight vigil will be held to remember more than 600 people killed in our state every year on the state Capitol grounds.

In 2015, Thomas Durand was shot and killed at a pawn shop he owned on Capital Boulevard.

Investigators say this was part of a crime spree that included another shooting, a rape and several robberies.

Thomas' daughter was expected to speak at the Tuesday evening vigil to share information about her family's loss.

"Memories (are) really all you can hold onto now," Stephanie Thomas said. "Everyday, just lean on what he taught me (and) what he instilled in me and try to make him proud."

Kendrick Gregory, who has been charged in Durand's murder, is scheduled to go to trial in April 2020.

The trial follows several years of the court declaring him incompetent to stand trial, so it's been a long journey for his family.

At the ceremony, participants were expected to see bags with lights to represent the victims of homicide in North Carolina.

Last weekend in Raleigh over a 24-hour span, multiple people were shot and stabbed.

The NC victim assistance group says for every homicide at least 10 people are impacted, which includes family, friends, co-workers and neighbors.

And every time a violent crime is in the news, the memories of what happened to them come flooding back.

"So many homicide victims talk about how there is not a single day that they don't think about their loved one that was taken," said Scott Bass, who works with the group. "So, while anniversaries, holidays and birthdays can be particularly difficult, we often forget that everyday they are thinking about their loved one who was taken by violence."

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