Hundreds Gather At Vigil To Honor Slain Members Of Grantsville Family

GRANTSVILLE, Utah – Members of a Utah community were mourning as a vigil was held in honor of the Haynie family following Friday’s shooting that took the lives of a mother and three of her children.

Hundreds gathered in Grantsville Monday night as the vigil’s organizer read a statement provided by surviving members of the Haynie family, including 50-year-old Colin Haynie.

Colin Haynie, the family’s father, was released from the hospital after being injured in the shooting.

Despite the cold weather, hundreds held candles and listened to stories about the family members and a group of youth sang a musical number.

“We all sit back now and say what could we have been done different,” said community member Carl Herren as he tied yellow ribbons to trees at Grantsville High School.

The ribbons were placed at the schools where three of the victims were attending — Grantsville High School and Excelsior Academy.

“We’re going back to school tomorrow and there will be counselors,” said Daegan Herren who joined his dad and sister in tying ribbons. “Being in a small town, we’re as vulnerable as any other place.”

There were still questions as to why the teen suspect, who police have not identified, allegedly shot the mother and children and how he obtained the firearm.

However, Monday night was about coming together to remember 52-year-old Consuelo Alejandra Haynie and her two daughters and son who died – 15-year-old Alexis Haynie, 14-year-old Matthew Haynie and 12-year-old Maylan Haynie.

A special message that was written by surviving members of the Haynie family was shared, expressing their gratitude for the outpouring of love and support.

“The depth of sorrow we feel is matched only by the overwhelming outpouring of love we feel from the Grantsville and surrounding communities. The amount of love, compassion, and consideration shown by churches, businesses and communities is deeply touching. Words cannot adequately convey the gratitude we have for your thoughts, prayers and well wishes. Please know that these are a great comfort and have given us strength to press forward. Please know that as you mourn with us, we also mourn with you. We pray that all may be comforted at this difficult time.

“We thank those of you who have contributed to the rich experience that has been ours to grow as a family among you. We especially thank those that have been friends, role models and teachers to our children. They have truly blossomed here. We have many happy memories of our time with members of this community.

“It is our hope and prayer that at this difficult time we focus on the positive moments that we have shared together. We are finding for ourselves that as we mourn, it is beneficial – if not necessary – to cheer our spirits with good memories, and even a bit of laughter. We have benefitted by hearing the experiences that others have had with our family members. Some have been touching, others have been comical. All have helped us remember our dear family members as they loved and were loved by others.

“We thank those who have organized this event to remember the lives of our family members. We thank all of those who have come to participate tonight and hope that you will be strengthened and uplifted as you have strengthened and uplifted us.”

Amid the tragedy, community members were relying on each other to find the light in the darkness.

Tooele School District officials also announced counseling services will be available to students on Tuesday when they return from the holiday weekend.

Aside from the ribbons, students from Tooele High School placed notes of love and support on the doors of the entrance to Grantsville High School where students will return knowing three of their classmates are gone.

Funeral services will be held Friday, Jan. 24, 2020, at noon at the Grantsville Stake Center, located at 550 East Durfee Street.

A viewing will be held prior to the services from 10:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at the same location and interment will follow at the Grantsville City Cemetery.