Visitors pay respects at Trolley Square

They came alone, with family, carrying envelopes or bouquets of flowers.

Some were strangers to the victims, others keenly related, knowing all to well of the pain suffered a year ago today in the Trolley Square shooting.

For David Walker, today's visit to the memorial is a way to convey a couple of messages: one of gratitude to a community that continues to care and one for his sister-in-law, Vickie Walker, widowed in the shooting.

"I stopped by to show support for my brother (Jeffrey Walker)," David Walker said. "I wanted to show up and tell my sister-in-law what was here. It's nice to see a community still remembers and shows support."

Walker's older brother Jeffrey and Jeffrey's son, AJ Walker, were the first people shot by Sulejman Talovic on Feb. 12, 2007.

He said the last word AJ heard from his father was "run."

But the last year has been one of quiet steps for the Walker family, which he says has drawn closer than ever before because of the shooting.

AJ continues to heal, his siblings continue to offer support and his mother continues to have hope, even in the hurt.

He said she wasn't planning on being here today because it's too painful. AJ has not been back.

This morning and early into the afternoon, however, people came to honor those victimized in the shooting.

Inside the mall's south amphitheater, a table sits with eight large candles and several smaller ones surrounded by four large wreaths — a memorial for those who lost their lives one year ago.

At 9 a.m., a closed-door gathering was held at the memorial for the survivors of the shootings and their families. A few, but not all, showed up for a brief get-together.

Stacy Hanson, who survived the shooting but still continues to recover in a wheelchair, said as late as last night he wasn't planning to come to Trolley Square today.

"Everyone is healing in their own way. Whether they come to these things or not, it's their prerogative," he said. "It's tough getting over this."

Hanson said he and his wife debated Monday night whether to come but decided finally that they would show up to make it a positive experience for them.