Mourners lit eight red candles and five blue ones Thursday for each of those killed or injured one day earlier after a troubled young man opened fire in a department store before taking his own life.
The ceremony was held at St. John’s Church on Creighton University’s campus, where The Rev. Roc O’Connor read the names of the victims aloud, KETV-TV reported.
“We can see the light in the midst of darkness. We can encounter hope in the midst of despair,” the Rev. Andy Alexander said.
At least three of those killed and injured were Creighton alumni and had developed deep roots in the area.
“This is something that is going to hit home for everyone who lives here,” mourner Robyn Eden told KETV-TV. “Small community — regardless of how many people live here. This is a small town.”
President Bush offered sympathy Thursday to the families of the victims.
“I was in Omaha just before the shooting took place, and I know what a difficult day it is for that fine community,” said Bush, who had traveled to the area to attend a Republican fundraiser and was on his way back to Washington when the shootings took place.
“The victims and their loved ones are in the prayers of Americans,” Bush said. “The federal government stands ready to help in any way we can, and the whole nation grieves for the people of Omaha.”
Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey also expressed shock and sadness at the Westroads Mall shooting at a news conference Thursday.
“Today, we are still reeling form the events that few have ever imagined would take place in Omaha,” he said. “We will not accept this evil act to occur in our community.”
Victims rememberedPolice identified the eight murder victims Thursday morning after notifying families. The victims ranged in age from 24 to 66, and were both employees and customers.
The customers killed were Gary Scharf, 48 of Lincoln and John McDonald, 65, of Council Bluffs, Iowa. The employees killed were Angie Schuster, 36, of Omaha; Maggie Webb, 24; Janet Jorgensen, 66 of Omaha; Diane Trent, 53 of Omaha; Gary Joy, 56 of Omaha; and Beverly Flynn, 47, of Omaha, police said.
Scharf’s ex-wife described him as loyal and honorable.

OMAHA, Neb. – With extra security on hand and holiday shoppers waiting at the doors, the Westroads Mall reopened Saturday morning, three days after a gunman killed eight people and himself at the mall’s Von Maur store.
A makeshift memorial of flowers, notes and poems covered about two-thirds of the bottom steps of the entrance gunman Robert Hawkins used to enter the Von Maur department store. On display were eight foam snowflakes, each with a picture of a victim.
The store, however, remained closed. Yellow holiday lights brightened the exterior, but black tarps draped the inside of the doors. Wreaths sat on tripods just outside, and a note from management said the stOutside the mall, two Red Cross vans and a Salvation Army unit were set up near the food court entrance.
Early shoppers faced wind chill temperatures of only two degrees above zero before trickling into the food court or the mall proper, as retailers started raising their security gates at 8 a.m.
Marge Andrews, 49, said there was a very different feeling in the mall Saturday compared to her regular walks there with a friend. She and her husband John, 51, had come to buy sporting goods for their son and clothes for their daughter.
“I come out here almost every morning, and (today) it was kind of just an eerie feeling of, I don’t know, quiet,” said Andrews.
“It doesn’t feel like a Christmas feeling,” her husband said.
Also Saturday, Hawkins’ family released a statement in which they said they hope the community can heal.
“The Hawkins family extends its sincerest condolences to all those impacted by this senseless and horrible event,” the statement read. “While no words can ease the pain and grief, our family prays that at some time, in some way, our community can be healed in the aftermath of this terrible tragedy.” ore will reopen soon. No date was given.