Sandy community comes together to heal after tragic losses

Neighbors organize tributes, GoFundMe, for victims of May 31 shooting

By Brit Allen, The Sandy Standard

In a statement on June 1, Sandy City Manager Tyler Deems said: “Sandy is a wonderful place with a long legacy of rallying together when tragedy strikes,” and the community has already been exemplifying this through the ways people have responded to the May 31 shooting. 

On May 31, three people were killed and one Sandy Police officer was injured. While the suspect has been arrested and arraigned, many continue to mourn and seek healing and ways to help the loved ones of those lost. 

“A terrible incident occurred in Sandy last night that has shaken our community; its effects will be with us for a long time to come,” Deems wrote. “Sandy is a wonderful place with a long legacy of rallying together when tragedy strikes. In times like these, it's important that we come together and lift one another up. The outpouring of support I have already seen is inspiring. My deepest condolences go out to the victims and their families. My thoughts are also with our officer who was injured, and I am wishing them a full and fast recovery. Thank you to all the public safety personnel who responded to this incident. Please continue to keep in mind all those impacted by this horrific event.” 

Among those killed on Sunday were Jenna Mary Overson, 37, Mary Beth Overson, 70, and Kobyn McClure, 16. Sandy Police Sgt. Garrett Thornton was also shot during the standoff, and is still hospitalized but reportedly in stable condition. 

Support for Kobyn’s Family

A GoFundMe created on June 1 to help the family of Kobyn McClure while his mother is unable to work due to bereavement and preparing his funeral, has already raised $32,124 of its $55,000 goal. You can find that campaign at gofund.me/a6e950b9c. 

The campaign was created by Kali Frasier, a neighbor of the family. 

“This is a very tragic time for everyone in the community, but especially for those who lost their loved ones,” she wrote on GoFundMe. “Kobyn was a wonderful young man who was taken from us far too early. His mom is unable to work during this difficult time, and likely will be for an extended period as she prepares to lay her son to rest. I’m asking the community to consider donating to help her financially, so she can cover his funeral expenses and take care of herself and his sister during this time of grief. Thank you to everyone, and please keep them in your prayers.” 

Support for Jenna Overson's Children, laying Jenna and Mary to rest

There are two separate GoFundMe campaigns set up on behalf of the Oversons. 

One is to assist in deferring funeral costs of Jenna Overson and her mother Mary Overson. These funds will go to Mathew Overson, brother of Jenna and son of Mary. As of June 2, $6,555 of that campaign’s $8,000 goal had been raised. To donate to this cause, you can visit gofund.me/778c45e35. 

The second campaign, started by a family member, is to help Jenna Overson’s three sons who witnessed the shooting and are left behind. 

“Jenna was a loving, attentive, and devoted mother,” wrote campaign organizer Kortnie Smith. “Her boys were the center of her world, and everything she did was for them. She loved being their mom and worked hard to provide them with love, guidance, and support. The boys loved spending time outdoors, exploring, playing, and simply being kids with their mom by their side.” 

“Tragically, Jenna's life was taken far too soon, leaving behind her three sons, ages 10, 8, and 3,” Smith added. “In addition to losing their mother, the boys witnessed a tragedy that no child should ever have to experience. They are now navigating overwhelming grief, trauma, and a future that looks very different than it did just days ago. The weight of this loss is impossible to put into words. There are no words to explain the responsibility and heartbreak of helping children process a loss of this magnitude. Right now, our focus is ensuring they are surrounded by love, protected, cared for, and given every opportunity to heal.”

Smith explained that the boys are currently being cared for by family. 

“As our family works through ongoing investigations, court proceedings, legal matters, and custody-related decisions, many unknowns remain. Everything is temporary right now, but one thing remains certain: these children will need ongoing support in the days, months, and years ahead,” Smith wrote. “Every dollar raised through this fundraiser will be used for the benefit of Jenna's children and their needs during this transition and beyond.”

Funds raised are intended to help provide for the children's immediate and long-term needs, such as clothing, food, childcare, counseling and trauma-focused support, educational expenses, extracurricular activities, transportation, medical needs, and day-to-day expenses, as well as to help offset costs associated with legal proceedings and other unforeseen needs that arise.

That campaign can be found at gofund.me/43293fd89. 

Wounded in the line of duty

Nicole Thornton, wife of Sgt. Thornton, posted publicly on Monday about his condition. 

“First of all, we are so appreciative of all the love and support and prayers said on our behalf,” she wrote. “We feel it all and it is helping us get through this trial. Garrett has been a trooper. He was in surgery for 6 hours today and they were able to fix him up quite a bit. Some of his wounds need more time before they can be addressed. This is the beginning of a long road to recovery. But we are so grateful that we're on the road!! Garrett was definitely being watched over and we're eternally grateful.”

“I personally am so grateful for all those who have assisted Garrett thus far, from the second things went wrong all the way to now as he lays in a hospital bed occasionally cracking jokes in between the moments of pain,” Nicole added. “Thank you for all the care that we know will come in the future. We feel so lucky to have all of you in our corner. So many have reached out and we're so grateful. I apologize I haven't been able to get back to many of you. But I have been sharing your well wishes with Garrett. We know we have many that will jump to help the second we need something and we will take you up on your offers as needed. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Garrett is resting now and will remain in the hospital for some time. I will post more updates over the coming days. But he is doing relatively well and is headed in the right direction.” 

Community gatherings of healing 

Multiple groups and people in town have talked about organizing events to bring the community together in communal healing and pay tribute to those lost. 

A community vigil was already hosted on June 1, and a community group led by Living Way Fellowship church has already organized a gathering to offer community support following this traumatic event. 

At 2:30 p.m. Sunday, June 7, the group plans to host a walk through the town in the area of the shooting. 

“No one can prepare for trauma, but we can respond,” the organizers said in the Facebook event description. “The shooting in our city has rattled us all. We want to come together and heal our city together. This event is for all in our community to come together to walk those streets and reclaim our safe home. We want to show our neighbors on Evans Street that we see them, and we chose to be with them in solidarity. These streets are ours, and they are safe. This is home. We are neighbors. Let’s come together. Everyone is wholeheartedly invited to this event.”

The walk will start at Living Way on Dubarko and  head east to Meinig Avenue, to Evans Street, to Van Fleet and back to Living Way via Dubarko. 

For more information on the Sandy Neighborhood Walk, visit facebook.com/share/1EHShTZHCE. 

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