A day after a mass shooting that killed 14 people and injured 21 more, the victims were honored Thursday evening at two events in San Bernardino County.
A candlelight vigil was held at San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino on Dec. 3, 2015, honoring the victims of the Inland Regional Center massacre. (Credit: KTLA)
Thousands attended a candlelight and prayer vigil held at San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino.
Timmy Hilliard, who attended the gathering, said he was working in a building adjacent to the scene at the Inland Regional Center when the shooting rampage occurred.
Hilliard said he recorded video of authorities entering the facility, and later saw victims being brought out.
"Now it's just starting to sink in a lot," he said Thursday evening.
Maria Banuelos was emotional as she stood in the grandstand at the stadium.
"They may have been able to attack us, but we are united," she said. "San Bernardino is united."
Meanwhile, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community hosted a prayer vigil at Chino's Baitul Hameed Mosque, the largest mosque in the county.
"We stand in solidarity with you tonight," said Amjad Mahmood Khan, of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, addressing the victims. "As people of faith, we pray deeply and ardently that you find healing after this terrible tragedy."
The somber events began just over two hours after authorities released the names of those killed Wednesday at the state-run facility in San Bernardino.
The mass killing is likely the most deadly in the U.S. since 26 were fatally shot at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.
San Bernardino Police Department Chief Jarrod Burguan on Thursday called the shooting “incredibly tragic.”
“We’ve got a lot of families that are clearly devastated by what happened here,” Burguan said. “Our prayers are with them and we are here to support them any way we can.”
