The people of Bell mourned the loss of seven friends, neighbors and loved ones Sunday after a former Tampa man shot and killed his daughter and his six grandchildren.
Sunday night, the north Florida community gathered and lit candles to remember 28-year-old Sarah Spirit, 11-year-old Kaleb, 9-year-old Kylie, 8-year-old Johnathon, 5-year-old Destiny, 4-year-old Brandon and 3-month-old Alanna Stewart.
The mood was somber as the Bell community cried out, confused, upset and hurt by the loss.
Seven white ribbons were tied to the fence at the elementary school, honoring those victims who lost their lives last Thursday.
Residents said the tragedy has devastated their community, where the focus was to remember the children and the family.
Soft spoken prayers were said by those holding candles as they remembered the lives of each of the victims, who, investigators say, were murdered by 51-year-old Don Charles Spirit. Spirit then killed himself.
But the focus was not on how they died, but rather how they lived.
In this small town of just under 500 people, many residents knew each of the victims.
“You would always see her outside playing with her kids. How could something happen like to those kids. You never would have thought that Sarah, or those kids or anything,” said Carol Pindado, a neighbor.
Cory Tuten went to school with the children, saying they always knew how to make him laugh. But like so many who knew the family, Cory doesn’t know what to think now.
“It’s frustrating. How could a grandfather do this to his grandchildren and his daughter?” asked Tuten.
Ddespite the frustration and confusion, the Bell community came together in support of their own, a family in need.
“Please keep us in your prayers, because we are going to need them in the coming weeks,” said Doyle Rehberg, a family member.
Meanwhile, investigators are still working to determine why Spirit would murder his family members. The community has raised more than $10,000 to help with the family's funeral costs.