Thousands brave freezing cold in vigil for Illinois shooting victims

Reuters - More than 2,000 people braved icy rain in sub-freezing temperatures in Illinois on Sunday (February 17) for a vigil paying respects to five people killed and five police officers wounded by a factory worker who opened fire on Friday (February 15) after losing his job. Solemn mourners stood before five white crosses with the names of the dead that became a shrine to the victims bearing pictures and hand-written remembrances outside the factory where the shooting took place in Aurora, about 40 miles (64 km) west of Chicago. The crosses bore the names of the dead: Trevor Wehner, a 21-year-old intern; Josh Pinkard, the plant manager; Clayton Parks, the human resources manager; Russell Beyer, a mold operator and union chairman; and Vicente Juarez, a stock room attendant and forklift operator. A sixth employee and five police officers responding to the scene were wounded. The gunman himself was slain about 90 minutes later in a gunfight with police who stormed the building.