Aurora to Hold Wreath-Laying Ceremony for Henry Pratt Shooting Victims

The ceremony will mark the 7th anniversary of the mass shooting that killed 5 employees.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The city of Aurora, Illinois will hold a wreath-laying ceremony on Sunday to honor the five employees who were killed in a mass shooting at the Henry Pratt Co. manufacturing plant seven years ago. The ceremony will take place at Aurora City Hall and is open to residents to attend and remember the victims.

Why it matters

The Henry Pratt mass shooting was a tragic event that deeply impacted the Aurora community. Holding an annual remembrance ceremony allows the city to come together and honor the victims, while also reflecting on the ongoing need for workplace safety and gun violence prevention measures.

The details

On February 15, 2019, a recently fired employee opened fire at the Henry Pratt Co. plant, killing 5 workers and wounding 6 others, including 5 police officers, before being killed in a shootout with police. The victims were Russell Beyer, Vicente Juarez, Clayton Parks, Josh Pinkard, and Trevor Wehner.

  • The mass shooting occurred on February 15, 2019.
  • The wreath-laying ceremony will take place on Sunday, February 15, 2026 - the 7th anniversary of the shooting.

The players

Henry Pratt Co.

The manufacturing plant where the mass shooting took place in 2019.

Aurora, Illinois

The city where the Henry Pratt Co. plant was located and where the annual remembrance ceremony is held.

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What’s next

The ceremony will take place on Sunday, February 15, 2026 at 1 p.m. at Aurora City Hall.

The takeaway

The annual remembrance ceremony in Aurora serves as an important way for the community to come together, honor the victims, and reflect on the ongoing need to prevent workplace violence and mass shootings.