A lone gunman's murderous rampage at Edgewater Technology in suburban Boston on Tuesday was over in minutes, but for dozens of survivors, the panic, grief and sorrow will remain indefinitely, according to counselors assisting them.
For some, the events they witnessed and the loss of seven friends on the morning after Christmas will take time to sink in.
"It's usually 48 hours later that people want to talk to counselors," said Rev. Michael Steele, pastor of St. Joseph Church, located across the street from Edgewater's Wakefield, Mass., offices.
Steele's parish became a safe haven for Edgewater employees, where a dozen clergy and 20 counselors gathered to console them after the tragedy. Police also conducted witness interviews at the church.
Steele said 80 Edgewater employees plus 60 of their family members ended up at the church. "Many people wanted to stay and pray and talk," he said.
On Wednesday, Steele and other clergy were meeting in preparation of a community-wide prayer service set for Thursday at 7 p.m. at the church.
Meanwhile, Edgewater CEO Shirley Singleton said the Wakefield office would remain closed through the end of the week. She said the company was prepared to offer assistance to workers.
"We want all of our employees to know that the company is currently putting in place the necessary counseling and support systems to ensure that our friends and associates have an outlet to help them through the grief associated with this type of tragedy," Singleton said.
Seven Edgewater employees, ranging from a receptionist to a human resources director, were killed when a lone gunman, co-worker Michael McDermott, 42, fired 37 rounds shortly after 11 a.m. Tuesday.
Authorities said the killings might stem from a dispute McDermott has with the Internal Revenue Service over tax debts. At the request of the IRS, Edgewater was preparing this week to withhold a portion of his earnings. Published reports said McDermott had an argument last week with accounting staff over the issue.
McDermott was arrested and charged with seven counts of murder; police say they arrived to find the shooting done, and the husky, bearded software tester sitting quietly in the lobby of the building, three high-powered guns at his side. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Wednesday.
CEO Singleton commented on McDermott's arrest, saying, "His actions apparently stem from occurrences in his personal life. We deeply regret that Mr. McDermott's problems manifested in actions against the company and its employees. There was no way to anticipate his actions or any apparent reasons to restrict his access to the building."
Editor's note: For additional boston.internet.com coverage on the Edgewater tragedy, click here. To read a boston.internet.com editorial on the shootings, click here.
