Impromptu vigil held in honor of fallen deputy
TACOMA, Wash. -- On a cold December night, dozens gathered outside, bound by a shared heartache.
They gathered to mourn the death of Pierce County Deputy Kent Mundell, who was taken off life support on Monday afternoon. Mundell was shot multiple times while responding to a domestic violence call at a home near Eatonville last week.
"I thought it might happen when they said he was on life support. Then I heard they took him off and he passed, I got a little emotional, started tearing up," said vigil organizer Riley Weik.
Monday night's impromptu vigil, organized through e-mails and text messages, seemed almost like a visceral reaction for the mourners.
Graham firefighters were on hand to honor the fallen member of the law enforcement family.
"The passing of Officer Mundell was truly a good friend of Graham Fire and Rescue and this community," said Graham Fire Chief Reggie Romines.
About half of those who attended knew Mundell well. One woman who works at Fred Meyer says she saw him often, and became a friend of the frequent customer.
"There'd be times if I wasn't in a good mood he'd say put on a smile. He was just very outgoing and I'll deeply miss him," said Annette, who did not wish to be identified by her last name.
Emily Nollmeyer attends every vigil she can for fallen officers. Her father was killed in the line of duty nearly 25 years ago. She knows what lies ahead for the family of the six fallen officers.
"It's really hard to think on what my family has been through, then to look back and to know that these families are starting at the very beginning of that journey," she said.
Another vigil will be held at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the South Precinct in honor of the fallen deputy.
They gathered to mourn the death of Pierce County Deputy Kent Mundell, who was taken off life support on Monday afternoon. Mundell was shot multiple times while responding to a domestic violence call at a home near Eatonville last week.
"I thought it might happen when they said he was on life support. Then I heard they took him off and he passed, I got a little emotional, started tearing up," said vigil organizer Riley Weik.
Monday night's impromptu vigil, organized through e-mails and text messages, seemed almost like a visceral reaction for the mourners.
Graham firefighters were on hand to honor the fallen member of the law enforcement family.
"The passing of Officer Mundell was truly a good friend of Graham Fire and Rescue and this community," said Graham Fire Chief Reggie Romines.
About half of those who attended knew Mundell well. One woman who works at Fred Meyer says she saw him often, and became a friend of the frequent customer.
"There'd be times if I wasn't in a good mood he'd say put on a smile. He was just very outgoing and I'll deeply miss him," said Annette, who did not wish to be identified by her last name.
Emily Nollmeyer attends every vigil she can for fallen officers. Her father was killed in the line of duty nearly 25 years ago. She knows what lies ahead for the family of the six fallen officers.
"It's really hard to think on what my family has been through, then to look back and to know that these families are starting at the very beginning of that journey," she said.
Another vigil will be held at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the South Precinct in honor of the fallen deputy.