Thursday evening, people gathered at Again Street Park to honor and remember the lives taken by homicide in the community.
The event marked The National Day of Remembrance for Homicide victims, a day established by Congress in 2007 to recognize the lasting impact of violent crime and to support families left behind.
Candles were lit in the park as friends, families and advocates reflected on those who have passed and renewed their commitment to healing and justice.
The vigil served as both a tribute to the victims and a call for collective action against violence in Boone County.
In 2024 there were a total of 13 homicides in Columbia and only 4 so far in 2025.
The Office of Violence and Prevention said raising awareness begins with the community.
“Communal approach to be able to say what can we do about the numbers we've seen in 2023, 2024, and how can we make sure that is not a reality for the residents here in Columbia" said D'Markus Thomas-Brown, the violence prevention administrator.
The organization, Boone County Community Against Violence, sponsored the event and was founded by mothers in Columbia that have lost a loved one or want to see a change.
This was the first candlelight vigil for the organization. They hope to continue this movement for years to come.