Victims of Captial Gazette shooting remembered five years later
ANNAPOLIS, Mary. (NBC, KYMA/KECY) - A somber day of remembrance in Annapolis, Maryland. Wednesday marks five years since the deadly mass shooting in the Capital Gazette newsroom.
On June 28, 2018, a disgruntled gunman killed five staffers at the paper.
On Wednesday morning, a wreath-laying ceremony was held honoring the victims and survivors of gun violence.
"Today, we honor the First Amendment freedoms for what they stood for and stood up for and that they stood for," said William Rowel, Community Relations Specialist for the City of Annapolis.
Feeling of empowerment
Five years since journalists Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith and Wendi Winter were gunned down inside the Capital Gazette newsroom in Annapolis, a former colleague admitting a void is still there, but that this journey of healing has turned into a feeling of empowerment.
"Our staff, our staff's dedication and perseverance are a testament to commitment to serving the community and honoring the memories of their fallen colleagues," said Marty Padden, Director of Retail Advertising for the Capital Gazette.
Families and friends of the victims, along with elected officials like Maryland Governor Wes Moore, gathered at the Guardians of the First Amendment Memorial, dedicated on this day two years ago. The gunman, Jarrod Ramos, was sentenced to five life terms without parole that same year.
"Gun violence victims are all around us none of us can give up we don't have that option," said one memorial attendee.
"Try and do what you can"
The wife of Hiaasen, Maria, recalling how this June feels so much better than June in 2018, but that every year, it's still tough as she receives phone calls from her kids remembering their dad.
"We talk, we cry, we laugh, and [my daughter] Andrea said, 'We have hope.' I do believe there have been 311 mass shootings in this country this year...It's awfully hard to stay hopeful, but I'm begging you all to try and do what you can," Maria expressed.
