Hundreds of people gathered on the steps of the Seminole Heights Methodist Church for the fifth annual community tree lighting ceremony.
- Tree lighting held in Seminole Heights
- Hundreds gathered for the ceremony
- Police recently captured suspect in killings
But unlike in previous years, this year’s ceremony took on a deeper meaning coming off the heels of police capturing a suspect in the Seminole Heights serial killings.
“We were very frightened of course and we're grateful that it's over,” Resident Sherrie Gill said.
Other people like Johanna Murphy said this ceremony is special for her.
“We definitely deserve a time to celebrate, as a sense of community too,” Murphy said. “We've always been a tight knit community and this really just reinforces it and gives us something to celebrate.”
Other people like Illianise Rodriguez, don’t even live in Seminole Heights but wanted to be a part of the ceremony.
“You don't have to know everyone so personally to know that you feel all the togetherness here," Rodriguez said. “And it just feels like one huge family.”