Memorial Honors Victims Of Aurora Mass Shooting 2 Years On

AURORA, IL — Five white crosses stood solemnly outside the Henry Pratt Co. two years ago, a makeshift memorial to the five employees killed in a shooting inside the factory on Feb. 15, 2019.

Through the end of February, those crosses will be on display at the Aurora Historical Society to honor the five men who were slain: Russell Beyer, Clayton Parks, Vicente Juarez, Josh Pinkard and Trevor Wehner.

Five Aurora police officers and a factory employee were injured in the shooting two years ago. The gunman was killed by police.

Though it’s closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Aurora Historical Society is displaying the crosses again this year to “honor the victims and first responders that worked that day,” Aurora Historical Society Executive Director John Jaros told the Aurora Beacon-News.

The crosses are on display in the windows of the Piece Art and History Center at 20 E. Downer Place, so that they are viewable from the sidewalk, according to a news release.

The display will also include some items from the memorial that was set up along the fence of the Henry Pratt Co. factory two years ago.

The crosses were created by late Aurora resident Greg Zanis, who started the Crosses for Losses ministry to honor victims of violent crimes.

Russell Beyer, Clayton Parks, Vicente Juarez and Josh Pinkard were working at the manufacturing plant Feb. 15, 2019, when their coworker Gary Martin shot and killed them. Trevor Wehner was working his first day as an intern.

Martin was fired from his job at the facility just before the shooting, police said. Martin wounded five Aurora police officers in a short shootout before he was killed.

Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin and U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood spoke Monday during a brief ceremony outside the Piece Art and History Center, the Aurora Beacon-News reports.

Irvin urged residents to "remember those lost from senseless violence," while Underwood spoke of potential legislation like "commonsense gun violence prevention bills," the report states.

Our thoughts are with the victims and families who lost loved ones in the mass shooting in Aurora two years ago today. We also remember the bravery of the @AuroraPoliceIL on that fateful day.

May their names and their stories never be forgotten.https://t.co/0NSqASxH7z
— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) February 15, 2021

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