PAOLI, Ind., -- The small town of Paoli, Ind. is now mourning the loss of two small children shot by their father in a domestic dispute Tuesday, Feb. 10.
Indiana State Police said 6-year-old Leon Gehl has passed away from his gunshot wound.
The memorial outside the children's home has been growing as the Paoli community grieves this loss. Rowan Chastain and her family came to add to the memorial for her classmate, Leon.
"It's kind of closure for her to accept it and understand, give something back to him," Rowan's mom Amanda Chastain said. "To even talk to her about it because she knew him, made it even harder."
ISP says a domestic dispute between the children's parents led to Jeremy Gehl stabbing his wife Melissa Randolph and shooting his children, Addison and Leon, before turning the gun on himself. Addison died Tuesday night, ISP says Leon died Thursday.
"It's sad that this had to happen this way you know we are all heartbroke over it. Our community is a little community but still we stay together as one family," Danny Longest said. "Everybody knew Melissa and this was a tragedy that shouldn't have happened this way."
It's a tragedy that's touched many in the small town. That's why Pastor John Hutcheson at the Central Baptist church opened his doors for a prayer vigil Thursday night, Feb. 12.
"A lot of the people, a lot of them are hurt, a lot of them are wondering why, a lot of them are upset, so we just wanted to offer this time of prayer of council. A lot of people have questions and so we're just trying to show our support not only for the immediate family but for the community," Hutcheson said.
Hutcheson says their church is open to anyone struggling to deal with this tragedy. He also said grief counselors have been made available at the child's school.
