Mourners pray, grieve together in service following Cook’s Corner shooting
By Orange County on August 26, 2023
Hundreds of mourners gathered Friday night to remember the victims of the deadly Cook’s Corner shooting, acknowledging the pain the community has felt in the days since and taking time to grieve.
The community prayer at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest was the first held since Wednesday’s mass shooting in which officials say a retired Ventura police sergeant entered Cook’s Corner, a roadhouse grill in Trabuco Canyon, and shot his estranged wife and several other patrons enjoying live music on spaghetti night.
A couple wearing Cook’s Corner T-shirts embrace during a prayer service for the victims of the Cook’s Corner shooting at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest on Friday, August 25, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Julia Bright put a “Free Hugs” sign on her basset hound Henry in hopes of giving comfort to those attending a prayer service for the victims of the Cook’s Corner shooting at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest on Friday, August 25, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A woman holds a candle during a prayer service for the victims of the Cook’s Corner shooting at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest on Friday, August 25, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
People hold candles during a prayer service for the victims of the Cook’s Corner shooting at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest on Friday, August 25, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
People attend a prayer service for the victims of the Cook’s Corner shooting at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest on Friday, August 25, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Longtime patrons of Cook’s Corner Dawna Schoenberger and Robert Heyer embrace before a prayer service for the victims of the Cook’s Corner shooting at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest on Friday, August 25, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dawna Schoenberger parks her Harley Davidson amongst the dozens of other motorcycles as they arrive for a prayer service for the victims of the Cook’s Corner shooting at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest on Friday, August 25, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Women embrace outside Saddleback Church before a prayer service for the victims of the Cook’s Corner shooting in Lake Forest on Friday, August 25, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Members of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department attend a prayer service for the victims of the Cook’s Corner shooting at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest on Friday, August 25, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Women embrace outside Saddleback Church before a prayer service for the victims of the Cook’s Corner shooting in Lake Forest on Friday, August 25, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Longtime patrons of Cook’s Corner, Shelley Pagliarulo, left, and Payten Futch share an emotional embrace before a prayer service for the victims of the Cook’s Corner shooting at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest on Friday, August 25, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
People hold candles during a prayer service for the victims of the Cook’s Corner shooting at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest on Friday, August 25, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A man is overcome with emotion during a prayer service for the victims of the Cook’s Corner shooting at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest on Friday, August 25, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
“This tragedy that has struck our community impacted everybody’s life in such a significant way,” Saddleback Church pastor Andy Wood said. “Some who lost loved ones; others who know somebody who lost a loved one. In this moment, it’s an opportunity for us to come together, grieve together.”
A long procession of bikers rode their motorcycles to the church campus, some wearing Cook’s Corner hats and shirts, greeting and hugging each other before walking inside. The prayer service moved between songs and sermons throughout the evening.
Steve Dees, a resident of Trabuco Canyon who said he had planned to be at spaghetti night on Wednesday but ended up not going, felt the service helped the community with healing and moving forward.
“It’s such a tragedy,” Dees, 54, said. “You can feel the pain, you can feel the hurt, and just coming together as a community and bonding the way they are right now. It’s just a big blessing.”
Saddleback Church is two miles from Cook’s Corner. It’s the same spot where Orange County law enforcement and prosecutors set up their command post following the shooting. Sheriff’s deputies and other first responders were at the service.
Volunteers passed out candles that were later lit during prayer. Others who attended said they wanted to be with their community and valued the strong support being shown.
“When we are grieving, it is important to be together and honor the lives who have been lost and to hold the pain each person is walking through together,” Wood said. “We are praying as we mourn together that each person will experience comfort in being with others who are with them in their pain.”
Staff Writer Erika Ritchie contributed to this report.
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