SEQUIM — When Sequim resident Carol Novis heard about the Las Vegas mass shooting, she called around town to see whether there was a candlelight vigil to be held for victims.
“I was horrified,” Novis said when she turned on NPR and heard about the shooting, which killed 58 people and left nearly 500 injured Sunday at a country concert in Las Vegas. The gunman, Stephen Paddock, 64, set up a firing point in a hotel overlooking an open-air music festival and shot himself dead as police stormed his suite.
As soon as Novis discovered there was nothing scheduled in town, she decided to organize a gathering at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Sequim Civic Center.
A group of about 10 people gathered at the Civic Center, lit candles and stood in a circle, singing patriotic songs and talking about why they came to the vigil.
One vigil attendee Glenda Totten said she was there because she could relate to the victim’s families who are grieving for lost or injured loved ones. Her son was murdered 25 years ago in a trailer park in Nevada by someone who shot him with a gun.
“It’s been awhile ago since then, but this brings it back,” she said. “When will this stop?”
The group left shortly after they gathered and parted ways.
