Vigil to remember two boys, grandmother

NORTH STONINGTON, Conn. (WTNH) -- Family friends are gathered on Friday to remember two little boys and their grandmother. The woman shot the kids and then herself after she picked them up at daycare and went missing, sparking an Amber Alert.

Hundreds of people, many holding candles, packed the grounds at the North Stonington Recreational Complex. People arrived by the bus load, many struggling to find ways to move on after such a tremendous loss.

"They just can't make any sense out of the situation. It's just a tragic loss. We feel for the family. Everybody is very sympathetic," said First Selectman Nick Mullane.

Two-year-old Alton Perry and his brother, 6-month-old Ashton, were shot and killed by their grandmother in a murder-suicide that has rocked this small community.

"You never think about things like that are gonna happen in your town until it does and when it does, you're like, wow," said David Lewis.

On Friday night, friends, family, and people from all over came together to console one another, and grieve for the two lives cut unimaginably short.

"I'm here tonight to pay my respects to this family that lost its two young children. It's devastating, just devastating," said Lewis.

People say they aren't sure how to move on after such a tragedy. The show of support on Friday was a great first step for many people that call North Stonington home.

"It's a small community. Everybody knows everybody and even if they don't know, they reach out an try to help them," said First Selectman Mullane.