TROUTDALE, Ore. (KOIN 6) — Today is the last day of school activities for students at Reynolds High School.
It’s also a day of continued healing.
One year ago, 15-year-old Emilio Hoffman was shot and killed by Jared Padgett.
The school is asking for privacy. The district will not be conducting interviews, but in a video statement, released early Wednesday morning by the superintendent, Dr. Linda Florence said: “I am so proud of the way we demonstrated our strength and expressed our gratitude each and every day since June 10th.”
Reynolds Strong: A message from Superintendent Dr. Linda Florence from Reynolds School District #7 on Vimeo.
The last day of school on Wednesday will start like usual, the district reports. The flag will be raised at 7 a.m.
Around 8 a.m. on June 10, 2014, hundreds of law enforcement officers, deputies and federal agents descended on Reynolds High School campus after reports of shots fired.
Padgett, police said, entered the gym armed with an AR-15 rifle and a .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol. He shot Hoffman and wounded physical education teacher Todd Rispler. According to investigators, Rispler suffered a graze wound to the hip. Padgett took his own life, police said.
Students were evacuated from the school. They walked out of the building with their hands raised.
Hoffman is remembered for his love of soccer and his bright smile. His mother, Jennifer Hoffman, created “Emilio Inc.” The goal of the organization is to raise awareness of mental health challenges and to prevent youth violence.
Jennifer Hoffman has also started a blog. She calls her experience since her son’s death “the most devastating thing that could ever happen to someone.” She writes that there has been heartache and struggles, but she is “moving forward and making a change in this world for Emilio.”
In August, there will be the second annual Emilio Inc. soccer tournament at Reynolds High School and Columbia Park in Troutdale.
Jennifer Hoffman recently wrote about her family’s experience in a 979 word post on Huffington Post – Parents in which she goes into detail about living “every parent’s worst nightmare.”
Multnomah County Commissioner Diane McKeel also released a statement on the tragedy. You can read the letter below.