Montco community gathers to mourn shooting victims, pray for survivor
Hours after the body of Bradley Stone was recovered in upper Montgomery County, the community in Souderton came together to grieve last night. While honoring those Stone is accused of killing, they also prayed for a survivor to recover from his injuries.
About 100 people gathered at Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Souderton to sing, pray and to sit in silence together.
The tearful candlelight vigil followed nearly two days of terror as police searched in multiple parts of Montgomery County for Stone. The Marine reserves veteran fled after allegedly shooting his ex-wife Nicole Hill Stone and five other family members, and then apparently took his own life.
Sivonnah Smith came to remember one of the victims, Hill Stone’s niece, Nina Flick, 14.
“Nina was one of my closest friends and what happened was just shocking and a disgrace,” said Smith, who described her friend as someone who stood up to bullies, a “beautiful person.”
“[I’m] angry really and just plain sad and disgusted.”
Flick’s 17-year-old brother, Anthony is the only survivor of the attacks and has been hospitalized in serious condition.
Gayle Keys attended the vigil and says the wounds in Souderton will be slow to heal.
“I’m sad that it had to happen in this community,” she said.
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