#SantaFeStrong: 12 powerful photos that show the spirit of the community after shooting

People view a memorial erected in front of Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas, on May 28, 2018. (KPRC)

SANTA FE, Texas – One year ago the people of Santa Fe were shaken to their core when a gunman stormed the high school and killed 10 people - 8 students and 2 teachers.

Despite the horrific event, the Santa Fe community, Houston and people all over Texas came together to show that when tragedy strikes, nothing else matters coming together to help pick up the pieces.

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In the days after the shooting, memorials were erected, there were vigils, victims were honored and surviving classmates faced the most bittersweet graduation that school has likely ever experienced. 

However, through it all the people remained #SantaFeStrong.

See some of the images that captured the spirit of the Santa Fe community.

Emergency crews stage in the parking lot of Santa Fe High School where at least 10 students were killed on May 18, 2018 in Santa Fe, Texas. At least 10 people were killed when a gunman opened fire at Santa Fe High school. Police arrested a student suspect and detained a second person.

On May 18, 2018, an active shooter was reported at Santa Fe High School. Emergency crews staged in the parking lot of the school in an effort to get victims and others the help they needed.

Flags fly at half staff in front of a business near Santa Fe High School on May 19, 2018 in Santa Fe, Texas.

Hours after the shooting, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff in honor of the victims.

Friends and family attend a vigil held at the First Bank in Santa Fe for the victims of a shooting incident at Santa Fe High School.

Friends and family still trying to wrap their heads around the shooting attend a vigil at the First Bank in Santa Fe to honor the victims.

Mourners say a prayer after leaving flowers in front of Santa Fe High School on May 19, 2018 in Santa Fe, Texas.

The Santa Fe community begins to come together to pray for and honor those killed in the shooting.

Graduating seniors are recognized during Sunday service at Arcadia First Baptist Church near Santa Fe High School on May 20, 2018 in Santa Fe, Texas.

Graduating seniors were recognized during a service at Arcadia First Baptist Church near Santa Fe High School two days after the shooting in Santa Fe, Texas.

Pictures of victims of the Santa Fe High School shooting are displayed during a prayer vigil at Walter Hall Park on May 20, 2018 in League City, Texas.

Pictures of victims of the Santa Fe High School shooting were on display during a prayer vigil at Walter Hall Park on May 20, 2018, in League City, Texas.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott visits Santa Fe High School with his wife Cecilia to lay flowers at a small memorial on May 20, 2018 in Santa Fe, Texas.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott visits Santa Fe High School with his wife, Cecilia, to lay flowers at a small memorial two days after the shooting.

Lori Simmons offers tobacco and says a traditional native-American prayer while visiting a memorial in front of Santa Fe High School on May 21, 2018 in Santa Fe, Texas.

A woman sprinkled tobacco and says a traditional native-American prayer in front of a memorial at Santa Fe High School three days after the shooting.

Mourners visit a memorial in front of Santa Fe High School honoring the victims of the Santa Fe school shooting on May 22, 2018 in Santa Fe, Texas.

Mourners visit a memorial in front of Santa Fe High School honoring the victims of the Santa Fe school shooting four days after the tragedy.

Santa Fe High School students in caps and gowns make their way to the Class of 2018's graduation ceremony at Joe Raitano Memorial Stadium on June 1, 2018 in Santa Fe, Texas, just two weeks after a 17-year-old student gunman opened fire and killed ten people on campus.

Just a short two weeks after the shooting, students put on their caps and gowns to walk across the stage at the Santa Fe High School graduation ceremony.

Words of support are pictured on a vehicle before the Santa Fe High School Class of 2018's graduation ceremony at Joe Raitano Memorial Stadium on June 1, 2018 in Santa Fe, Texas. The graduation took place just two weeks after a 17-year-old student gunman opened fire and killed ten people on campus on May 18.

Those killed in the shooting were honored and remembered during the 2018 graduation ceremony, and though they may be gone, they will never be forgotten.

People view a memorial erected in front of Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas, on May 28, 2018.

About the Author

Daniela Sternitzky-Di Napoli has been a digital news editor at KPRC 2 since 2018. She is a published poet and has background in creative writing and journalism. Daniela has covered events like Hurricane Harvey and the Astros World Series win. In her spare time, Daniela is an avid reader and loves to spend time with her two miniature dachshunds.

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