It’s been a gut-wrenching 24 hours for the families of the victims of Friday’s fatal shooting at an Aurora industrial complex.
As the news has slowly began to sink in for those families, the victims are being remembered for their loyalty, their kindness, and the impact they had on the lives of many, many others.
Throughout the day Saturday, friends and family members have come to the Henry Pratt Company to pay their respects to the five victims, who were killed when a former employee opened fire following the meeting in which his employment was terminated.
One of the victims killed was 37-year-old Josh Pinkard of Oswego, who recently relocated to Aurora last spring to take over as plant manager. Pinkard leaves behind a wife and three children.
Another employee, Vicente Juarez, leaves behind three adult children and eight grandchildren, and his family is devastated by his tragic death.
“I’m not going to see my dad anymore,” Juarez’s daughter Diana said. “I’m never going to see him again. He’s never going to come home from work.”
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In Sheridan, Illinois, the family of 21-year-old Trevor Wehner is trying to make sense of his senseless death, as the college student was starting his internship at the company on Friday when the gunman opened fire.
“He just wanted to care for others and be there for them and make everything better,” Wehner’s brother Thomas said. “God tells us to forgive and I think that’s what I’m going to do.”
Russell Beyer of Yorkville was also killed in the shooting. A union chairman at the plant, Beyer was remembered by friends and neighbors as someone who cared deeply about the happiness of others.
“If you ever had any problems or questions on anything, he was always the first person to come right over and help you,” neighbor Dan Alexander said.
The victims will be remembered on Sunday during a vigil at the plant, which will begin at 2:30 p.m. Those looking to help the victims’ families can donate to a GoFundMe account, which has been set up by the city of Aurora.
