‘Mourning Together’: Vigil at Allen church honors victims of outlet shooting
ALLEN, Texas – People gathered Sunday at a church in Allen for a prayer vigil to remember and pray for the victims and families affected by the outlet shooting.
Crowds gathered at Cottonwood Creek Church at 5:00 pm for the wake. Many elected officials were in attendance, including Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and Attorney General Ken Paxton, among others.
“We are in shock and we are all crying together,” Allen Mayor Ken Fulk said. “We won’t let the actions of one individual affect our resolve, we will come together as a community and come out even stronger.”
Those present sang worship songs and prayed for those affected by the act of violence.
“Our community just got hit and it hurts, it hurts,” said the mayor-elect for the City of Allen Baine Brooks.
Brooks reiterated the need for prayer for the community and said her thoughts were immediately with the victims once she learned what had happened.
“I thought about the mall employees and workers and how they felt, deep down in their hearts, they didn’t know what to do. I don’t think we were ever prepared for this” Brooks said.
Brooks thanked the people who worked to help the city.
“We’re a very small town that cares about each other and I appreciate all the people who have come and tried to help us, but we’re going to need prayer, we’re going to need prayer,” he said. she said.
Cottonwood Creek senior pastor John Mark Caton shared a message with those in attendance.
“We try to be a people who comfort those who mourn, who pray for those who suffer,” he said.
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