Vigil held for 2007 tragedy

Candles were lit in the sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church on Friday evening during a vigil in remembrance of Sgt. Lee Newbill, Crystal Hamilton and Paul Bauer, who lost their lives in the late hours of Friday May 19, 2007. It was the same room where shooter Jason Hamilton had committed suicide early the next morning.

Bruce Pitman, a longtime prominent member of the church, was asked to say a few words. As he spoke a candle was also lit for those who were wounded that night, Lt. Brannon Jordan of the Latah County Sheriff’s Office, Moscow police officer Bill Shields and university student Peter Hussman.

Pitman, the retired dean of students at the University of Idaho, made a special effort to recognize the other first responders and medics whose names were never recognized in the newspapers but who also put their lives on the line that night and dealt with the aftermath. Lastly, Pitman recognized those in the community who profoundly felt the effects of that night 10 years ago.

Many of them were gathered at the vigil Friday evening.

“There is still a lot of emotion from that night,” said Moscow Police Capt. Roger Lanier, who was in attendance.

Elizabeth Stevens from the Interfaith Association and Debbie Sperry from the First Methodist Church led the vigil, whose members walked from Friendship Square to the church. They paused on the corner of Fifth and Adams streets where Newbill was shot and killed, and they also paused in front of the sheriff’s offices at Fifth and Van Buren streets to recognize that although violence had occurred there, peace and justice had since reclaimed it.

“We cannot change what happened,” said Stevens, but 10 years later the wounds caused by that night have started to heal.

Moscow Police Chief James Fry, handed out roses to Newbill’s close friends, which were laid beneath the memorial on the corner near the courthouse.

Among them were Phil Gray, Lt. Jordan and Officer Jay Waters who had attempted to save Newbill’s life that night.

Pitman who lives six blocks from the church described the night. He recalled the deafening silence that came when the shooting stopped, saying that it was almost as threatening as the gunshots themselves.

“We were changed by this horrible event, but it has not defined us,” said Pitman.

Katie Short can be reached by email to kshort@dnews.com.