4th anniversary of Trolley Square massacre

SALT LAKE CITY — It has been four years since Sulejman Talovic, 18, opened fire at Trolley Square, killing five people and wounding four before he was killed by police.

By the time the shooting's fifth anniversary comes around, a memorial will be in place to honor the victims, according to the mall's manager. Mall officials have been working with the victims' families on a memorial concept that would include a fountain and reflecting pool in the plaza at the north end of Trolley Square, next to the new Whole Foods Market.

"People grieve in a lot of different ways," said property manager Dawn Katter, who carries her own painful memories of Feb. 12, 2007, having worked at the mall for 19 years. "We just want to create a nice area where people can sit and reflect."

She said she's not sure whether the memorial will bear the names of the victims. Some families prefer to remember their loved ones in private places of their choosing.

"We want to make sure we're making the best decision for everyone involved," Katter said.

Vickie Walker's husband, Jeff, was killed in the massacre, and her son A.J. was gravely wounded, suffering brain injuries that have made him relearn every skill he previously had. Since then, she's moved from South Jordan into a smaller home in Salt Lake City.

She said she thinks the memorial will be an appropriate tribute, not just for the victims' families but for the city as a whole, regardless of whether the names are displayed.

"It impacted the entire community," she said. "We're all aware of what happened there. It's not something you can sweep under the rug."

Walker said that while it was the worst day of her life, the bravery of first responders and the caring of the community also showed her "the very best of humanity." She and her son have gone to Trolley Square several times as part of a therapy to help them put the traumatic event behind them. 

"Our main goal as a family is to try to be happy again," she said. "Our family wants others to know you do survive. You do come out the other side."

They have turned their grief into something positive by establishing a nonprofit organization, Circle the Wagons, to help other victims of violent crime. The idea for the organization, which works with the Salt Lake City Police Department, is to give victims and their families a "survival guide" immediately after a tragedy. The idea came to Walker after she faced the stark reality of having to make funeral arrangements for her husband.