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Victims, survivors and families of the Saugus High School shooting came together for a virtual memorial Saturday night. One year ago, a student opened fire on his classmates, killing two and injuring three before turning the gun on himself.
Addie Koegle was one of the wounded. She was friends with both students killed that day: Dominic Blackwell and Gracie Anne Muehlberger.
“Gracie was my best friend for about six years,” Koegle said. “We spent almost every day together. Dominic and I ... met in Spanish, started hanging out at lunch, and eventually outside of school.”
Mia Tretta, who was also shot that day, was close friends with Blackwell. She says for those feeling the emotional impact of last year’s shooting, their feelings are valid and normal. And she said the Saugus students are not alone.
“I’m speaking to you not only with the wisdom of my own experience,” she said, “but the experiences of students from Parkland, Columbine, and Sandy Hook, and concert goers from Route 91.”
The memorial was the culmination of a week of wellness outreach and remembrance, including campus murals dedicated to Blackwell and Muehlberger.