The Chattanooga community came together throughout the weekend to grieve the loss of four Marines and a sailor who were killed in a shooting that occurred on Thursday by a 24-year-old Kuwait-born gunman.
"These men were trained to protect our country, to protect each other, but while they had their backs turned and unarmed somebody decided to come and take their lives," said Joe Wiram, the veteran student services coordinator at the University of Tennesee-Chattanooga (UTC), at a vigil held on Friday morning at the university.
Several vigils also took place in churches, including one at Metro Tabernacle Church on Thursday evening, and an interfaith vigil that took place on Friday at Olivet Baptist Church.
Leaders of Metro Tabernacle expressed determination and hope in the midst of the grieving.
"Even in our pain, even in our brokenness, nothing shakes Him. Nothing takes Him by surprise," said Devon Goins, worship leader at Metro Tabernacle, at the vigil on Thursday.
"We put down our differences," said Steve Ball, pastor of Metro Tabernacle. "We unite. We come through. We will not be overcome by this."
Roger Helly, who was at the Metro Tabernacle vigil, said the Chattanooga shooting came as a signal to keep praying.
"We've lost too many good men already, but now when we start losing them at home, that's a wake-up call for us to be watching and praying," Helly told WATE 6 On Your Side.
State legislators and law enforcement were present at the interfaith vigil at Olivet Baptist Church.
"We mourn four Marines," said Tennessee Senator Bob Corker at Olivet, overwhelmed with emotion. "We're here for four Marines."
Impromptu memorials were set up by Chattanoogans on the two sites of the shootings -- an Armed Forces recruiting center, and a Navy and Marines operations center. Hundreds of people came and paid their respects at these sites over the weekend, praying and leaving behind American flags, crosses, flowers, letters, and photographs, among other items of homage.
Lance Corporal Squire "Skip" Wells, Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Sullivan, Sergeant Carson Holmquist, and Staff Sergeant David Wyatt were killed on Thursday by Mohammod Youssuf Abdulazeez, who was also eventually killed, either from an encounter with law enforcement, or by suicide, according to reports. The sailor was injured during the shooting, and was announced dead on Saturday by the U.S. Navy.
Abdulazeez first opened fire at the recruiting center located in a strip mall, and then drove seven miles to the Navy and Marines operation center, at which the four Marines were immediately killed.
Though officials investigated ties to the incident as a terrorist attack, Edward Reinhold, FBI Special Agent-in-Charge, said, "There is nothing that ties [Abdulazeez] to an international terror organization," according to the Wall Street Journal.
