MARSHALL COUNTY, Ky. (WHAS11) — No one in Marshall County, Kentucky wants to focus on January 23, 2018. They want to focus on the now.
What the community of Marshall County wants to share is how they helped one another out before the shooting – and how they will continue to do so.
Two survivors of the shooting are standing strong and looking forward.
Thursday is Junior Gage Smock’s first day back at Marshall County High School since a school shooting claimed lives of two of his classmates.
Gage and Devon Evan were standing right next to each other when the shots rang out. One bullet went through Devon’s back and out his arm.
They survived but classmate Bailey Holt, who was next to them, did not. Gage and Bailey had dated 8 months before the shooting.
“I mean, just to be so close to somebody and then they’re gone…that’s been the hardest part for me not having her still here.”
Both teens now have tattoos serving as memorials of Bailey and Preston Cope, another sophomore who died.
Their best advice is to be kind and be there for each other.
“To me, you got to get on with everything and get back to normal as you can.”
They plan to show their gratitude to the #MarshallStrong community through their work on the football field. Their first game is August 17th versus their rival, Fort Campbell and Gage and Evan are looking forward to making their community proud.
“It’s packed. It’ll be awesome. It’s amazing and I imagine this year it’ll be better…We’re going to have to make another stadium.”