In memoriam of the King Soopers shooting

The Boulder community continues to mourn the tragic mass shooting that occured at King Soopers nearly one year ago. The profound loss still devastates families, friends, employees, students and first responders who were all affected by the shooting. The unimaginable, senseless act continues to shake the Boulder community to its core. 

The CU Student Government (CUSG) honored the lives lost by having a luminaria event on March 15, 2022 at the University Memorial Center (UMC). 

University of Colorado Boulder students felt a luminaria event would be a beautiful tribute. A luminaria candle represents a life lived here on earth and beyond. 

The brilliant lights were intended to honor the 10 lives that were lost that day. The luminarias shined brightly in the night as a symbolic gesture to the Boulder community’s resilience in the darkest of times. One man knelt down, praying silently for the victims. Others walked by the memorial service pausing to acknowledge the luminaria memorial.

“The luminaria event is extremely important to not only CU students but the Boulder community as a whole,” said CUSG tri-executives Taylor Weinz, Kavya Kannan and Ben Capeloto in a joint statement. “CU Student Government hopes that this event will provide students with the space to come together, remember and honor those we have lost, and support one another.” 

The wind howled as the temperature dropped colder, reminding us of the chilling shooting that took place almost a year ago. Many luminarias read “#BoulderStrong,” “Never Forgotten” and names of the victims were displayed including Eric Talley, a former Boulder police officer and father of seven. Talley was the first police officer to arrive on the scene and is regarded as a hero due to his immense bravery by protecting others from the gunman. 

The luminarias at the UMC were meticulously placed along the steps in order for students to reflect upon the messages and prayers written on them. 

“This event is an opportunity for CU students and the Boulder community to remember those we lost at the King Soopers tragedy,” said Olivia Johnson, the student engagement department director. 

“Hope is what holds humanity together. #BoulderStrong,” was written on a luminaria. This quote embodies the courage, compassion and heart of Boulder. The devastating tragedy that occurred will be remembered in history as another senseless mass shooting. The store recently reopened on Feb. 9 at the Table Mesa Drive location. 

The victims—Rikki Olds, Suzanne Fountain, Eric Talley, Kevin Mahoney, Denny Stong, Neven Stanisic, Tralona Bartkowiak, Teri Leiker, Lynn Murray and Jody Waters—were tragically lost that day but will never be forgotten. 

Stong, 20, Olds, 25 and Leiker, 51 worked at King Soopers and were regarded as kind-hearted members of the Boulder community. Waters, 65, was a mother and grandmother. Talley, 51, and Mahoney, 61, were wonderful fathers. Fountain, 59, was an actress and performed at the Denver Performing Arts Center. Bartkowiak, 49, owned a clothing store with her sister. Stanisic, 23, was a repairman who was leaving King Soopers when he was shot. Murray, 62, worked as a photo editor for fashion magazines, Glamour and Cosmopolitan. Each of the lives lost that day were full of hope, promise and the light of their families’ lives.