Memorials, Scholarship To Honor Victims Of Annapolis Shooting

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- Condolences continue to pour in for the five people gunned down in the Capital Gazette newsroom last week.

The horrific attack has sent a ripple effect of grief through the community — as employees begin to tell their stories of survival.

The tragic week punctuated by a weekend of reflection and remembrance in Annapolis.

At St John Neumann's Church in Annapolis Sunday, a holy hour honored the memories of Gerald Fischman, Wendi Winters, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara and Rebecca Smith. They prayed for the victim, their families, for peace and for the country, organizers said.

RELATED: Family Members Remember Capital Gazette Attack Victims

Speaking with CNN in Baltimore, survivors of the shooting recounted the paralyzing moments of a targeted attack on their newsroom.

I hit my head really hard against the door frame. I was bleeding and then obviously, you know, when I did try the door handle to get out, it was barricaded,' said Rachel Pacella, a reporter with the Capital Gazette.

WATCH: Shooting Won't Deter Capital Gazette Journalists

As I was hiding under my desk, I had my work phone on me," said reporter Phil Davis. "And I just happened to have a text exchange with Sgt Amy Migues, the spokesperson for the Annapolis Police Department, that was already open."

Anne Arundel County Police say suspected gunman Jarrod Ramos had a personal vendetta against the Capital Gazette...and Thursday afternoon, broke his way into the newsroom with a shotgun... hunting down four journalists and a sales assistant.... as reporters ran for their lives.

So I made a sprint for the door, and I think I tripped, I'm pretty sure I tripped," said survivor Rachael Pacella. "I might have just run straight into the door frame, to be honest. But I hit my head really hard against the door frame. I was bleeding and then obviously, you know, when I did try the door handle to get out, it was barricaded."

It's one Maryland's deadliest shootings recent history and according to CNN, took more journalists' lives than 9/11.

But Annapolis is standing together — Annapolis strong.

"We just love our community and we feel really badly about what happened. And we believe in the freedom of the press and we have grown up in this community, I've raised my family in this community," said Darlene Gruner.

A scholarship for journalism students was also created in honor of the victims, by the Baltimore Sun Group's owner, Tronc.

The Capital Gazette Families Fund was opened to raise funds for the victims families and to honor the four journalists and one sales staffer who were killed during a shooting rampage by 38-year-old Jarrod Ramos.

RELATED: Memorial Services Set For 2 Capital Gazette Shooting Victims

Memorial services have been arranged for at least two of the victims of Thursday's shooting.

Rob Hiaasen will be celebrated tomorrow at the Irvine Nature Center in Owings Mills from 6 to 9.

A memorial service for Wendi Winters will be held July 7th at noon at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Annapolis.

You can donate to the scholarship fund by clicking here. 

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