Boulder is still grieving.
City Council member Rachel Friend says several people are just starting treatment for depression a year after a gunman killed 10 people at a busy King Soopers grocery store.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e linking it to the mass shooting,鈥� she said last week on the eve of the first anniversary of the shooting. 鈥淎nother person told me yesterday that for their own mental health they need to leave town next week (for the anniversary) and not be here, and you know, have the physical proximity to last year鈥檚 events at the anniversary.鈥�
鈥淎 lot of people are still processing,鈥� she added.
Boulder paid tribute to the victims at events around the city on Tuesday.
At the city鈥檚 police station, hundreds gathered to remember officer Eric Talley, who was killed after rushing into the store.
鈥淭here is no doubt that Eric鈥檚 selfless bravery, performed in the line of duty, saved dozens of lives,鈥� Police Chief Maris Herold told the crowd. 鈥淧olicing, now more than ever, needs people like Eric.鈥�
At an event later in the day under the bandshell in downtown Boulder, a smaller crowd gathered for a tribute to all the victims.
Speakers included city officials, Gov. Jared Polis and U.S. Congressman Joe Neguse. They talked about the city鈥檚 resilience in the wake of the attack.
Others called for more limits on firearms and for more action in response to the shooting.
State Sen. Steve Fenberg, a Boulder Democrat, said last week shopping at the store does not feel the same.
鈥淚t is a heavy place to be in there even after the remodel,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut it really was a central kind of meeting place for that part of the community. So I think it鈥檚 important, and I hope that it will continue to play that kind of community building role.鈥�
