16-02-2025
6 years later: Aurora community remembers victims of 2019 shooting at Henry Pratt Company plant
AURORA, Ill. – A lot has changed in Aurora over the last six years, but the memories of what happened at the Henry Pratt Company plant still remain.
On Feb. 15, 2019, an employee with Henry Pratt Company who was about to be fired went into the office, pulled out a gun and opened fire on those who happened to be inside.
Trevor Wehner, Clayton Parks, Russell Beyer, Vicente Juarez and Josh Pinkard were all killed.
'What we can do as a community is remember these five men who passed away….these five souls, these five lights who endure beyond the loss,' said Clayton Muhammad with the City of Aurora.
ORIGINAL COVERAGE: 5 employees dead, 5 officers wounded in Aurora shooting; gunman killed by police
Six other people, including five responding officers, were injured in the search for the gunman who was also killed that day.
'Aurora remembers. Aurora honors. Aurora stands with you today and always,' Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin said.
Irvin was among those at Saturday's memorial, remembering those lost and what their legacy leaves behind in how the city responded to the tragedy.
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''Aurora Strong' still defines us. It's found in the way we care for our neighbors and the way we honor those we've lost,' Irvin said.
Parks' widow Abby was in attendance with her now-6-year-old son, Axel, who was just an infant when his father was killed.
'When February comes, it's like a slow march to February 15,' Abby Parks said. 'I'm thankful there's a community that continues to involve us in their embrace and their kindness and their love. It makes it just a little bit easier to know they have the City of Aurora behind us.'
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