One called ‘Sweet Pea,’ the other a leader: 2 students killed in Saugus High shooting honored at vigil
Friends and relatives of two Santa Clarita teens who were gunned down at Saugus High School on Thursday laughed, cried and treasured their memory alongside thousands of members of a community in mourning during a vigil Sunday, Nov. 17, at Central Park.
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Two glowsticks, presumably representing the spirits of Gracie and Dominic are carried by small white balloons into the night sky. #DominicStrong #GracieStrong #SaugusStrong #SaugusHighShooting @ladailynews
— Eric Anthony Licas (@EricLicas) November 18, 2019
Civic leaders encouraged the massive crowd in attendance to draw strength from each other as residents across the Santa Clarita Valley processed last week’s tragedy at the start of the vigil. They were followed by Saugus High students and those close to those killed — Gracie Anne Muehlberger, 15, and Dominic Michael Blackwell, 14 — who took to the podium and shared stories that opened windows into the personalities of the victims.
Gracie’s close friend, Addison Koegle, 14, was among the three other teen victims shot on Thursday, and said she was at home with family and recovering in a recorded statement. She used to spend hours making up dances with the slain Saugus High student, and described her as a wellspring of confidence, even when other girls made fun of her.
One of Gracie’s older brothers, Riley, struggled to choke back tears as he recalled a time when he paid $1,000 for a plane ticket to surprise his sister on her birthday while he was stationed away from home with the Navy.
“I’ve never seen such a big and beautiful smile in my life,” he said. Her parents called her “Sweet Pea.”
In a written statement, Gracie’s father said she looked up to her brothers. “She was always hugging and kissing them, even when they said it was gross.” Chuckles briefly replace the sound is sobs. @ladailynews #SaugusStrong #SaugusHighShooting
— Eric Anthony Licas (@EricLicas) November 18, 2019
Gracie was looking forward to shopping for a dress in Friday night for a Sadie Hawkins dance. It would have been her first formal dance. Thurday morning, she left home “with her head held high,” her father’s statement #SaugusStrong #SaugusHighShooting @ladailynews
— Eric Anthony Licas (@EricLicas) November 18, 2019
One of Dominic’s uncles said he was a leader and quick to assume the role of big brother. He helped guide his younger siblings and had no issues with changing diapers, a family statement said. The teen was loved by his family for his vibrant personality, his aunt Angie Davidson said.
A friend of Dominic Blackwell: He would tease me about being blonde, and I would tease him about being short.” Did ROTC together. He was smart, kind, funny and always ready to help his friends. “It will be a long walk to class Dec. 2” #DominicStrong #SaugusStrong @ladailynews
— Eric Anthony Licas (@EricLicas) November 18, 2019
Davidson was surrounded by other family members, several who were crying, as she spoke.
“He’s gone forever. We are broken,” Davidson said. “Please remember the two precious lives that we lost.”
Dominic was an ROTC student at Saugus, and the son of an Army veteran, his friend of nine years and fellow cadet Joshua Mourthi said. He described Dominic as gregarious, responsible, unflinchingly upbeat and always willing to help his friends.
“Like, he had the hardest time standing at attention because he just couldn’t stop smiling,” Mourthi said
Blackwell’s infectious positive outlook, as well as his bright orange SpongeBob SquarePants themed backpack, stood out to students like cadet Victoria Ingham. She said he played an important role in uplifting and supporting others taking on the challenges of the ROTC program on top of their schoolwork.
“He was serious when he needed to be, but he was that bundle of energy that you actually looked to,” she said.
Saugus Principal Vince Perry told the crowd that the event was a moment to grieve.
“We are here to grieve the loss of two teenagers, two friends, two students, two siblings and two children,” he said.
Saugus High special education teacher Kevin Burns said the process of coping has been a challenge for everyone in the Santa Clarita Valley. However, he said the tremendous outpouring of support directed to those affected by Thursday’s tragedy has made him proud to be a part of his community.
“It’s been difficult to be honest,” Burns said. “You never want to go through anything like this … but the message tonight is that we are Saugus Strong.”
The 7 p.m. event was organized by volunteers with support from the city, and had garnered interest from thousands of Facebook users as of Sunday afternoon. The vigil took on a deeply spiritual tone at times, as attendees sung along to hymns played by a live band and local faith leaders guided prayers. It was open to all affected by the shooting.
“We are a very tight-knit family oriented community and we are all family,” Santa Clarita Mayor Marsha McLean said during a news conference held Friday, Nov. 15, the day after the fatal shooting. “When something happens to one of us, we all feel it as well.”
Event’s like Sunday’s vigil are part of an ongoing process of healing, McLean said Friday. Later that evening, during a similar gathering held at Central Park, Saugus High students recounted chilling memories of the events that unfolded just a day prior while seeking to come to terms with the loss of two classmates who were fatally shot.
It was followed by a football game at Valencia High School that attracted teens from throughout the William S. Hart High School District. Students, sports fans and members of the community filled the stands. Many also covered a banner addressed to the campus of Saugus High with messages of support.
Students from across the school district sign a banner in support of Saugus High during last night’s matchup between West Ranch and Woodrow Wilson #saugusstrong @ladailynews pic.twitter.com/wS87Y37coR
— Eric Anthony Licas (@EricLicas) November 16, 2019
“I want to acknowledge the bravery of the students of Saugus High School who went through this and those who went to their aid,” McLean said Friday.
The campus had conducted a training exercise several weeks prior to Thursday designed to prepare people for the possibility of an active shooter scenario, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Friday. When gunfire rang out in a populated common area of the campus that day, students “did exactly as they were trained.” Children and faculty scattered, barricaded themselves in classrooms, covered windows and propped doors shut. They also took in wounded teens in a desperate search for shelter and administered first aid to them, Villanueva said.
Saugus High Principal Vincent Ferry called Detective Dan Finn, one of the first to respond along with Deputy James Callahan, a hero. Applause from the crowd. #SaugusStrong @ladailynews #SaugusHighShooting
— Eric Anthony Licas (@EricLicas) November 18, 2019
Saugus High School Resource Officer, LASD Deputy James Callahan, was one of the initial two officers to respond. The other, LASD Detective Dan Finn, was at the school to drop off his children at the time of the shooting. Despite a swift response and a prepared student body, six teens were shot. Among them, suffering from a self-inflicted wound, was the alleged gunman, Nathaniel Berhow. It was his 16th birthday.
Those who knew Berhow said he gave no indication he was planning violence, and his motives remained a mystery to investigators as of Sunday. News of the events that unfolded this week left many residents stunned and hurting in sympathy, McLean said.
“We have a lot to process, obviously, in the coming days weeks and months, but we will get through this all together,” McLean said Friday. “
People were invited to share their thoughts or offer encouragement to those affected by this week’s tragedy by visiting http://saugusstrong.org/, where they can also find social media posts shared under the hashtag #SaugusStrong. Gofundme accounts have also been set up by relatives of the victims for those who would like to offer monetary support.
Saugus High will remain closed until Dec. 2 to give the students a chance to heal. Before then, counselors will be available to help students cope with their grief.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.