The Colorado Springs Gazette final

Vigil for shooting victims to be held

Donations being taken to aid family

BY OLIVIA PRENTZEL olivia.prentzel@gazette.com

A candlelight vigil for the six people killed after a gunman opened fire at a birthday party in eastern Colorado Springs is scheduled for Thursday.

The Mothers of Murdered Youth organization will hold the event from 6 to 8 p.m. at the entrance of Canterbury Mobile Home Park, 3020 S. Powers Blvd, said Jennifer Romero, the organization’s founder.

Romero said the vigil would be a time for the community to gather, pray and talk. She requested those who attend the vigil bring their own candle to ensure there is an ample supply for all attendees.

The vigil will honor the victims, all members of an extended family:

• Joana Cruz, 52

• Jose Gutierrez, 21

• Melvin Perez, 30

• Mayra Ibarra De Perez, 33

• Sandra Ibarra-perez, 28

• Jose Ibarra, 26

Police said the shooting — the deadliest in the city’s history — was an act of domestic violence.

During a news conference Tuesday, police identified the shooter, Teodoro Macias of Colorado Springs, as a boyfriend to one of the victims who was angry after he wasn’t invited to a family gathering Sunday night. He arrived at the home and began shooting, killing six people before turning the gun on himself.

Also, the Colorado Healing Fund is accepting donations to support the shooting’s victims.

Donations will be distributed through the fund’s community partners to victims, including the Colorado Organizations of Victim Assistance, according to the nonprofit’s website.

“This is the second time the Colorado Healing Fund has been activated in less than two months, which is heartbreaking and hard to comprehend,” Jordan Finegan, the executive director, said in a statement. “While we will continue to respond to the Boulder Supermarket Tragedy, we are also officially collecting donations designation to support the victims, and the impacted community of Sunday’s tragic events.”

The organization’s Board of Trustees has flexibility to authorize funding for a range of victim needs, to support shortterm transportation needs such as a plane ticket or rental car, or long-term mental health services, according to its website.

The nonprofit was formed in 2018, with the help of a $1 million grant from the Attorney General’s Office. Its roots lie with a group of victim assistance advocates who had been involved with many mass casualty events like the Aurora theater shooting.

“This is the second time the Colorado Healing Fund has been activated in less than two months...”

Jordan Finegan, Colorado Healing Fund executive director

FRONT PAGE

en-us

2021-05-13T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-05-13T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://daily.gazette.com/article/281861531388703

The Gazette, Colorado Springs