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400+ at WMU remember victims of Kalamazoo shootings

Posted at 12:02 AM, Feb 24, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-24 00:02:17-05

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Hundreds of students at Western Michigan University attended a vigil Tuesday night held in remembrance of the six people who were gunned down Saturday night in Kalamazoo.

WMU president John Dunn said that the focus of the vigil was where it should be: on the victims, their families, and their loved ones. He went on to say that the university and its students were all "secondary victims," meaning that they didn't directly know the victims but were still impacted by their deaths.

"Even though I don't know the victims personally, I feel like I know their stories," said LaShana Jones, a WMU graduate student. "They seem to have very inspirational stories, and our heart goes out to their families."

Based on the number of candles given out, it's estimated that over 400 people attended the vigil, which was organized primarily by students from the Western Student Association and the Panhellenic Council.

Most of the six victims of the shootings Saturday night have memorial events planned for later this week. Specific dates and times can be found here.