Aurora Pratt Shooting Victims Honored In 3rd Anniversary Exhibit

AURORA, IL — In an upcoming exhibit, the Aurora Historical Society will pay tribute to the five lives lost in the 2019 shooting that took place at the Henry Pratt Company manufacturing and warehouse building in Aurora. Opening Feb. 4, the month-long event will mark the third anniversary of the tragic shooting.

On Feb. 15, 2019, Pratt employees Russell Beyer, Vicente Juarez, Clayton Parks, Josh Pinkard and Trevor Wehner lost their lives after a fellow employee shot at them. Five Aurora police officers and another Pratt employee were injured before the 45-year-old shooter was fatally shot by police, Patch previously reported.

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Five white crosses that stood in memory of the victims at the factory's gates will be the centerpiece of the Aurora Historical Society's exhibit, titled "We Remember February 15," which will run through Feb. 26. The memorial will be installed on the second floor of the Pierce Art and History Center, at 20 E. Downer Place in downtown Aurora, within the "Aurora Story" exhibit.

Late Aurora carpenter Greg Zanis built the crosses and donated them to the historical society. Along with the crosses, memorabilia left by mourners on the sidewalk outside the factory will also be displayed, according to a news release.

The exhibit, which has free admission, will be open from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.