Community Corner

Moment of Silence to Mark Columbia Mall Shootings 1 Week Later

A prayer gathering is set for Saturday at The Mall in Columbia to remember two Zumiez skate shop employees gunned down a week ago.

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Elizabeth Janney, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge

Exactly one week after shots rang out in the Columbia mall, citizens will congregate for a peaceful demonstration outside the store where three people were killed.

"We will come together in prayer over the victims, families, and the mall in general," organizers of the Saturday prayer gathering wrote on Facebook.

Howard County police said Friday there was still no motive in the double homicide on Jan. 25, after which the shooter, Darion Aguilar, 19, took his own life.

A memorial has been placed outside the store where police said employees Brianna Benlolo, 21, and Tyler Johnson, 25 were killed at approximately 11:15 a.m.

Hundreds attended a vigil Thursday night outside the mall.

At the indoor memorial event on Saturday, "We welcome you to come and join us as we gather in front of the Zumiez store as we pray for the families of this tragic incident," organizers said.

There will be people giving out white lapel ribbons by the fountain, and a moment of silence will be observed throughout the mall at 11:15 a.m., according to NBC Washington, in recognition of the time the shootings began last Saturday.

The prayer gathering will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1, outside Zumiez at The Mall in Columbia, 10300 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia. 

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