Bagpipes were played, the colors were presented, poems and prayers were read. Doves were released, tears were shed, laughter was shared. Victims and survivors were honored, first responders were thanked and, overall, a community came together to remember a tragedy and push through the pain to find love and hope in one another.

Collierville residents and town officials paused Friday evening to remember the events of one year ago when Olivia King was killed and 13 others injured during a mass shooting at a Kroger.

After being fired on Sept. 23, 2021, a 29-year-old man returned to the Kroger at 240 New Byhalia Road later that day with three guns, shooting 14 people, including King, according to police reports. The attack ended when the gunman shot and killed himself inside the store.

Collierville continues to grapple with the aftermath of the type of tragedy that has become commonplace across the United States in recent years. But for those in the communities impacted, for those who are injured and their loved ones, for the friends and families of those killed in mass shootings, the events are anything but usual.

King’s son, Wes King, spoke at Friday’s remembrance event and expressed grief, shared memories of his mother and implored people to take action to stop the kind of horrific event that played out in Collierville a year ago from happening again anywhere else. He asked people to show love and compassion for strangers, and think about what can be done to prevent future tragedies.

“The hardest thing about the last year is to reconcile the fact that she's gone, and the undeniable fact that she shouldn't be,” he said.

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King said the town of Collierville had “shown great leadership” but said other governmental bodies hadn’t.

“I'm not here to preach politics to you, although I'm well versed on the arguments. But I do believe that we have to do something,” he told the crowd Friday. “It really has to be up to us. We have to stop looking to these people who gladly take our donations and do nothing. We have to do something, brothers and sisters.”

He also thanked all the first responders who were at Kroger as well as the shoppers and workers who helped one another in the face of crisis.

“We live in a time right now where I think we need to remember there are heroes in our community, and we need to honor them. And those heroes were of all walks of life that day,” King said.

He recalled how his mother loved being a military spouse and mom, how her strong will helped her continue to live her own life even as an illness started to take away her mobility. He also stressed that she was a woman of faith, someone generous and loving and implored others to express those same values.

“I beg you, please take that love, that love of God, that charitable love and continue forward so that we stop living in fear, so that families like mine stop having this happen to them across this country,” he said. “My mom should be here. But so should so many other family members of people who were taken like my mother.”

Collierville Strong

While the community has mourned King and supported her family and those injured, Collierville residents have also rallied around one another, processing tragedy as they exhibit strength and unity. The phrase “Collierville Strong,'' popularized after the attack as a way of voicing solidarity on social media and in other places, has not faded.

Signs are still seen at Kroger and other businesses, in front lawns and on social media. Red bracelets with the phrase were handed out to attendees Friday evening.

Mayor Stan Joyner praised Collierville first responders, many of whom were at the remembrance ceremony, and spoke to the strength of the town as a whole.

“We're a community that is strong and can overcome, but we also care about everyone who was affected by the shooting. And we want to provide this opportunity for us all to be together and to support each other,” he said.

Like King and Joyner, others expressed their gratitude for the actions of first responders on that day one year ago.

The police department recently received the Tennessee Municipal League award for excellence in police services in its response to the Kroger shooting.

U.S. Rep. David Kustoff, whose district includes Collierville, spoke on the House floor this week to mark the event and praise the first responders who responded to the tragedy.

“One example — in an extraordinary act, Collierville firefighters wore bulletproof vests and rushed into the grocery store along with police officers to save lives before the active shooter was neutralized,” he said. "This quick response of our heroic first responders truly exemplified the strength and resilience of the Town of Collierville.”

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‘Comfort in coming together'

'The shooting for many remains something of an open wound. Earlier this month, Collierville police released footage of the shooting.

Collierville Alderwoman Maureen Fraser told The Commercial Appeal this week she saw one video and "that was enough."

"In a way it feels like it was just yesterday, but in another way it feels like it was years ago," Fraser said. "It's still really hard."

She had long been friends with King and said she keeps in contact with King’s adult children.

Mario Jenkins, a victim of the shooting, has filed a $10 million lawsuit against Kroger accusing the company of negligence for not providing more security before the shooting.

But many of those who spoke Friday stressed the strength that can be found in community.

“We can find comfort in coming together and connecting with neighbors and friends as we embark on this new chapter together,” Kroger Delta Division President Micheal Cristal said.

“I hope that we find comfort knowing you are not alone. This next step will affect each of us differently. I encourage you to be mindful of how your emotions are impacting you and to seek assistance if you need support.”

Central Church Pastor Matt Shackelford, who led those assembled in prayer near the beginning of the program, thanked God for the good that has come out of the tragedy.

“We thank you for the testimonies of the town of Collierville," he said. "Thank you for the testimonies of your goodness. How you cared for us throughout seasons of difficulty, how you brought this community together through trial and how the trial of one season has become the testimony of another season."

Reporter Dima Amro contributed to this report. 

Commercial Appeal reporter Corinne S Kennedy can be reached via email at Corinne.Kennedy@CommercialAppeal.com

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Collierville Kroger mass shooting: Victim's son asks for action