September 25 is the National Day of Remembrance for homicide victims.
This year, Governor Spencer Cox also declared it as a statewide day of remembrance for victims of homicide.
Hundreds of family members, friends and loved ones of those victims came out to the south steps of the Utah State Capitol Wednesday night to honor the memories of those who were lost to homicide.
Wednesday’s event included guest speakers, like Courtney Hawks.
“My world was turned upside down on November 30th of 2010, when my grandmother was brutally murdered her home base book store,” said Hawks.
Hawks spoke to the crowd, telling the story of her grandmother, Sherry Black.
“We were eventually able to find her killer and he was sentenced to life without parole,” said Hawks.
The event also included live music and a candlelight vigil.
Near the south steps on Wednesday, a memory garden was also put up for the event with pictures of victims who lost their lives to homicide.
“This event is really for families of homicide victims to come together and remember their loved ones,” said Brandon Merrill, the Executive Director of Utah Homicide Survivors.