BELL, Fla. – A memorial service and a candlelight vigil will be held Sunday night in the town of Bell. It's been more than 48 hours since the small town of Bell was shaken by a senseless tragedy -- a convicted felon shooting and killing his daughter and six grandchildren before turning the gun on himself.
The community will honor 11-year-old Kaleb Kuhlmann, 9-year-old Kylie Kuhlmann, 8-year-old Johnathon Kuhlmann, 5-year-old Destiny Stewart, 4-year-old Brandon Stewart and 3-month-old Alanna Stewart -- and their mother, 28-year-old Sarah Spirit.
Authorities said the children's grandfather, Don Spirit, was the shooter, who spent time in prison for the death of his young son and was not legally allowed to own a gun.
A moment of silence was held Friday night just before Bell High School took on its rival Trenton High School and the marching bands played "Amazing Grace."
That support continued in small ways Saturday.
Bell residents are still in shock over the violent deaths of a young mother and her six children. For the people in this small town, prayer for healing is on the forefront of their minds.
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Cory Tuten, along with his siblings and friends, went to school with four of the kids killed. They've decorated shoe boxes and T-shirts with the children's names and pictures. Their plan is to go from business to business in surrounding cities to collect money to help with funeral expenses.
"We made these to help with donations for the family and the funeral and all of that," said Tuten. "They're special. Most kids wouldn't do this."
The children's mother, Monica Tuten, couldn't be prouder. She told News4Jax she was close to some of the family members and the reality is almost too much to bear.
"It just broke my heart," said Monica Tuten. "I couldn't imagine anybody doing that to their own child, let alone their grandchildren. There's no way. It'll take a while. It's going to take a lot of mending in peoples hearts and prayer and everything else."
Members of the community have also been preparing for the vigil Sunday night.
"People are real tight-knit as far as being there for others and everyone knows everybody," said Shelie Barns, a Bell High School staff member.
Flowers have been placed at the home on Northwest 29th Terrace, and one mile away seven candles are placed in memory of the seven killed Thursday afternoon. On social media sites, people are using the hash tag #PrayForBell.
"I was dealing with many phone calls. People asking, 'Did I know about a shooting?' You wonder, who? Because you know everybody," said Barns. "You know everybody's children from being at the school for so many years."
Barns said more than 130 students stayed home from school Friday. When asked if she knew the Spirit family, Barns said, "The girl was an acquaintance. I had seen her around town. The father of the youngest children was a student when I started at the school 9 years ago."
Hundreds are expected to gather Sunday night at the high school for a memorial service. A candlelight vigil will follow afterward at Bell Elementary.
Even though the healing process has just started, the community is counting on their faith and resilience to guide them.
As the investigation gets closer to completion, Sheriff Robert Schultz is thanking many agencies for their assistance following the tragedy.
Those participating will include first responders and communications officers who responded to the scene, the men and women of the Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office, Gilchrist County Emergency Services and Chief Mitch Harrell, Gilchrist County Emergency Management, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Alachua County Sheriff's Office, the Levy County Sheriff's Office, the Lafayette County Sheriff's Office, the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, the Eighth Judicial Circuit States Attorneys Office, the Eighth Judicial Circuit Medical Examiners Office, the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Florida Sheriffs Association, the Gilchrist County School Board and Superintendent Robert Rankin and Staff, the staff at Bell Elementary School, the Gilchrist County Board of County Commissioners, County Administrator Bobby Crosby, Gilchrist County Road Department and Supervisor Billy Cannon, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Children and Families, Akins Restaraunt, and other people who have thought about a prayed for the town of Bell during this time.
Stay with News4Jax and news4jax.com for coverage of the memorial and candlelight vigil in Bell.
