A year has passed since Kirkwood mourned the city hall shootings.
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A year has passed since Kirkwood mourned the city hall shootings. Last year, on Feb. 7, Charles “Cookie” Thorton, walked into the Kirkwood city council meeting and fired at city officials. Seven members were killed and two were injured by the end of the assault, leading to Mayor Swoboda passing away a few months later.
An estimated 2,000 community members gathered in the square on a closed Kirkwood Road in front of city hall on Feb. 7 of this year to commemorate the day.
Two local reverends said prayers, the choir sang and Mayor Art McDonnell read a poem. Emotion rippled through the crowd as the remaining city council members lit remembrance candles while the mayor read off each name, allowing a few moments of silence for each victim.
Across town, in Meacham Park, about 50 people gathered to comfort Annie Bell Thornton, the grief struck mother of Charles “Cookie” Thornton.
Meramec student Rachael Wester remembered the fateful day vividly. She was a close family friend of slain police officer Tom Ballman.
“All we could do was to support Cindy and the kids with babysitting and meal preparation.”
Many in the crowd said Kirkwood can now move on, but the signs remain, “Kirkwood Remembers.”
