5 people killed in Sebring SunTrust Bank shooting honored with memorial

One year ago Thursday, a man with a gun killed five women in a shooting rocked the small town of Sebring and the nation.

“Their spirits are here, we know it’s here,” said.

The Sebring community is honoring five women who were lost one year ago in a shooting at a Sun Trust Bank, and the city is turning the tragedy into a symbol of strength.

The bank was never reopened following the shooting and was torn down for a park dedicated in their name.

A memorial will forever mark where they died inside a SunTrust bank, now gone, replaced with five palm trees and five benches for five women.

Sebring Mayor, John Shoop, says this simple setting is a beginning of sorts.

“We’re pulling through the phase of hurt, I guess you can call it, and really starting the healing part of it,” he said.

He spoke at the ceremony, recounting the horrific day and says they must continue to pray. He also said they are continuing to move forward and get stronger, and they will continue to do so.

“For the families and the community, it’s a place to come to remember them…But it’s really, it’s set up to be a solemn park where are you can come and just sit and not worry about anything,” Shoop said.

Blanca and Maria Piñon lost their sister Ana. Blanca said she got a text message from her cousin—a screenshot of someone talking about an active shooter.

“I was in a panic,” she said. “I called family to see if anyone had heard anything from her.”

“It’s just so sad that someone would do such a horrific thing to someone so innocent, five innocent ladies that didn’t do nothing to him,” Maria said.

“She was a fighter,” Blanca said. “She was a fighter and we want to think that the moment she realized what was going on that she fought for her life.”

The people of Sebring vow to always remember what happened there.

“We just need to show the rest of the world that ‘Hey, if it happens, you can get through it and move on to be better than we once were,'” Shoop said.

A representative from SunTrust also spoke and said Jan. 23, 2019, forever changed the company and the community. SunTrust is committed to standing strong and they continue to wear Sebring Strong hearts.

Reporter: Michelle Mackonochie



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