PARKLAND, FL – At least 1,000 people gathered Thursday night to honor 17 lives. The names were read aloud. Some sobbed while others carried signs asking for action against school violence.

Jonathan DeYoung spoke with CHANNEL 5 NEWS on his way to the vigil. He recounted his immediate reaction to the news.

"Parkland is one of the safest cities in Florida," said DeYoung. "It actually is the safest city in Florida by FBI crime statistics last year and this is literally the last place. When they say you never think it's gonna happen, you know here or wherever you are, this is the last place I would ever expect something like this happens."

DeYoung tells CHANNEL 5 NEWS Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School maintained a reputation as “safe.”

"There's no gang problems or violence problems like in other public schools in Florida," said DeYoung. "They don't need certain security measures that other public schools."

DeYoung expects the community to recover, though he admits it will take time.

"It's a loss of innocence in our community," said DeYoung. "That's how me and my family feel. We really feel like our town's innocence has been lost."

An innocence lost as a community bond together in solidarity.