On January 8, 2011, a devastating shooting in Tucson left six dead and fifteen injured, shocking the community.

Now, five years later, a memorial is in the works, and on Friday, Tucson Medical Center stepped up to turn the idea into a reality.

TMC announced it will donate $500,000 to the cause, making it the lead sponsor for the memorial’s capital campaign. The January 8th Memorial will honor the victims and all those affected by the fatal shootings at the Safeway in Casas Adobes. It is planned to be located in El Presidio Park on Alameda Street.

The generous donation will fund the construction of a series of memorial gardens in El Presidio Park, in an area just west of the Old County Courthouse.

The memorial will be an important way to commemorate the tragedy that touched and changed so many lives. The final plans were released in January 2016, and January 2017 will be the sixth anniversary of the event.

Within the memorial walls, there will be etched images reflecting the lives of victims, survivors, and the first responders who helped save lives and maintain calm during the hectic hours following the incident.

The park is designed to help all ages enjoy, reflect and heal following the tragedy, with an everyday park, sculpture garden, amphitheater, water play area for children, historic park, civic park, and cultural park.

The hope is that this will help the community come together and embrace one another, remembering the victims and encouraging peace.