It was September 6th last year. A gunman opened fire in a Carson City parking lot before walking into the IHOP.
Four people were killed, including three National Guard members.
Colonel Johnny Isaak knew most of the victims and even served in Afghanistan with one of them.
"Pretty much, I think myself and all my colleagues were in shock," Col. Isaak said. "Shock, surprise, extreme sadness."
The shooter killed National Guard members Lieutenant Colonel Heath Kelly, Sergeant First Class Miranda McElhiney, Master Sergeant Christian Riege and South Lake Tahoe resident, Florence Donovan-Gunderson. Seven others were wounded.
"I think it was a difficult day for everybody in the guard," Col. Isaak said. "I think it was a difficult day for day for everybody in Carson City."
The suspect, Eduardo Sencion, took his own life shortly after the shooting.
"I think everybody is just saddened to the point that somebody would get to that point in their life where they feel that that would be necessary to go ahead and do something like that to people that are innocent, that don't even know who they are," Col. Isaak said.
Last Friday a moment of remembrance was held at Mills Park in Carson City. The community came together nearly a year after this unexplainable event. Even now, the emotional and physical toll is still evident.
"I've seen two of the soldiers that were injured in there last Friday, and they still have the scars on them," Col. Isaak said. "One is still wearing a boot and the other one is going through extensive surgery."
While the community and the surviving victims continue to pick up the pieces, the events of that day still follow each person who was touched by this tragedy.
"I think when you have an event in your life, it's like an amputation," Col. Isaak said. "You never really get over it. You just learn to live with it."
Something Col. Isaak says they have done by coming together and leaning on each other.
Since this shooting, there have been new initiatives to educate guardsmen on what to do if something like this happens at their facility or when they are out in public.
The hope is to prevent or minimize the likelihood of this incident from ever happening again.
Written by Paul Nelson
