Hundreds turn out at Trestle Trail Bridge to pray for shooting victims, "reclaim the park"
MENASHA (WITI) -- It has been five days since Sergio Valencia del Toro opened fire on the Trestle Trail Bridge in Menasha -- killing three people and seriously injuring a mother before turning the weapons on himself. On Thursday evening, May 7th, hundreds were expected to gather in Fritse Park to pray. The healing process has begun following this horrific tragedy.
Jonathan Stoffel and Olivia Stoffel
Thursday was a "National Day of Prayer," and hundreds gathered to remember those killed last Sunday evening and to begin the healing process. A prayer service began at 5:30 p.m. in Fritse Park.
A school bus company donated services to shuttle folks to the park for the prayer service. This, as police say prayer and healing are just what the community needs right now.
"It's a bad thing that happened," nine-year-old Ava Hafeman said.
Police said Wednesday autopsy results have revealed Jonathan Stoffel was shot seven times. His wife, Erin Stoffel was shot three times. Their 11-year-old daughter Olivia Stoffel was shot three times -- and 31-year-old Adam Bentdahl was shot once.
Jonathan Stoffel, Olivia Stoffel and Adam Bentdahl were killed. Erin Stoffel remains in the hospital -- recovering from her wounds.
Jonathan Stoffel and Erin Stoffel
Erin Stoffel has been praised for heroism in the face of unthinkable horror and tragedy. She was able to get herself and her two other children off the bridge even after she was shot three times -- and she instructed her young son to get help.
The shooter, 27-year-old Sergio Daniel Valencia del Toro died as a result of a single self-inflicted gunshot wound.
"I was in so much shock. I couldn`t believe what I was hearing," Michael Hager said.
It wasn't just the news that a gunman had killed three innocent people on the Trestle Trail Bridge in Menasha. One of the victims was Hager's friend and neighbor for seven years, 31-year-old Adam Bentdahl.
Adam Bentdahl
"He was just a very rare person. Gentle, funny, had a great sense of humor. We`re all at pretty much a big loss for words," Hager said.
What they can't say in words, the community is showing through their actions.
"It`s a good time for everyone just to have that fellowship and get together and talk about it and kind of reclaim the area -- reclaim the park if you will," Town of Menasha Police Officer Jason Weber said.
Near the spot where Bentdahl, 33-year-old Jonathan Stoffel and his 11-year-old daughter Olivia Stoffel lost their lives, and where Olivia's 32-year-old mother Erin Stoffel was seriously injured -- shot three times, hundreds gathered in prayer on Thursday evening.
"You have to show support. I would never want to go through anything like that," Amber Ostorero said.
"It`s a good testament to what we have in the Fox Valley here. It's really unique," Weber said.
Weber says he and other officers with the Town of Menasha Police Department know the road to healing is a long one -- but they said they see Thursday evening as the start of the healing process.
"Obviously physically for Erin -- but mentally and emotionally for a lot of people," Weber said.
"It could happen to anyone, but it's tragic. You hate to see it," Kevin Ostorero said.
Life-long Menasha resident Diane Schwerin echoed Jonathan Stoffel's touching, powerful final words to his wife:
"'Forgive the shooter.' Even though he shot them, which he should not have done," said Schwerin.
Menasha National Day of Prayer
There is hope prayer will heal Menasha and hope a community can be stronger together. There's also hope that Erin Stoffel will make a complete recovery.
"Just pray that she survives, that her children are by her side," Carmen Castillo said.
Sergio Daniel Valencia del Toro
Police said Wednesday there have been conflicting stories regarding the events that took place between the shooter and his ex-fiancee prior to the incident.
The facts from an initial interview police had with Haylie Peterson remain that the wedding had been called off a short while ago.
On the date of the shooting, police say there was a serious disagreement over the relationship status between the shooter and Haylie -- at which time she left the residence and upon returning, she discovered del Toro had left the residence on his bicycle -- taking weapons with him.
Police say they learned this information from Peterson, and it was corroborated by others.
The investigation to determine what led up to this incident continues, and any information that further identifies the motive for this attack will be released.
Funeral services will be held for Adam Bentdahl this weekend. A visitation will be held on Friday, May 8th at Valley Funeral Home from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., and again at the church on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. A funeral is planned for Saturday, May 9th at the Fox Valley Christian Fellowship on W. Kimberly Avenue in Kimberly. Bentdahl will be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery in Appleton.
For Jonathan and Olivia Stoffel, a visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 13th from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Calvary Bible Church at 1450 Oakridge Road in Neenah.
The visitation will continue at the church on Thursday, May 14th from 3:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Funeral services will be held for Jonathan and Olivia Stoffel on Thursday at the church at 6:30 p.m.
More details will be posted HERE on Friday.
A GoFundMe page has been established to benefit the Stoffel family. More than $140,000 has been raised. CLICK HERE to visit the page.
A GoFundMe page has also been established for Adam Bentdahl. CLICK HERE to visit the page.
