Dozens walk Cascade Mall, posting encouraging messages to employees affected by mass shooting

BURLINGTON, Wash. --  Macy’s says they plan to reopen on Thursday morning, ending a five-day shutdown after the mass shooting that claimed five lives.

On Wednesday, the community continued to show support. Dozens showed up even before the mall opened.

“We are here, we are going to walk, we have our kids,” Maddy James said.



Dozens of people gathered to walk the mall at first gathering at a table inside Cascade Mall.

“They had some materials put there so you could put thank you`s up,” Joy Caldwell said.

Those blank posters quickly turned into messages of hope for mall employees, taped on almost every storefront.

“Show that we love them, we care,” Michele Dellinger said.

They paid close attention to Macy`s, posting many encouraging notes steps away from where a shooter killed five innocent people Friday night.

“We can really take our mall back from the evil,” Caldwell said.

The evil she escaped. On the night of the shooting, Caldwell and her husband were inside the mall watching a movie.

“All of a sudden, the screen froze,” Caldwell said.

A theater employee rushed in and evacuated everyone safely.

“You can hear the crack in her voice but she must have been no more than 16 and 17 years old,” Caldwell said.

Hoping to find the theater worker during the mall walk on Wednesday, Caldwell came with flowers and a thank you poster.

“She did her job in the moment, she had to take leadership and I wanted to say kudos,” Caldwell said.

Shortly after Caldwell spoke to Q13 News, the theater worker got that message.

Caldwell took a picture to commemorate the moment with an employee who turned out to be 21 years old.

“I’m full of gratitude,” Caldwell said.

Now that young woman is smiling because of a community that`s still standing strong.