BOISE, Idaho (KBOI) — Emotions ran high Thursday as the community mourns the loss of two of its own: Jo Acker and Roberto Padilla Arguelles.
Candles flowers and choir music accompanied the crowd during Thursday's ceremony. But the night was about more than spectacle.
It was a chance for people to heal in the aftermath of a tragedy. Many of the folks that I spoke with knew the victims personally.
The mayor says our community is poorer for having lost them.
“I know that this was a step in the healing process for them, just as it is a step in the healing process for so many of the mall employees and our community," McLean said.
Duncan Ross, a friend of Jo Acker, said he'll remember his friend's positive attitude.
“Jo was not somebody who would ever dwell on the negative," Ross said. "He’d always be like, alright let’s get to it. So, I try to honor that.”
Jessilyn Smith, Attendee
“It was absolutely beautiful," said Jessilyn Smith, an attendee. "It was hard to keep back my tears because I knew Jo a little bit from working in the mall.”
You can watch the entire vigil below:
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