CHARLOTTE — An estimated 7,500 people gathered for a vigil in UNC Charlotte's basketball gym Wednesday night. The thousands in attendance included students, faculty, staff, alumni and campus supporters.
[Photos: Vigil held at UNCC day after deadly shooting]
As the thousands entered, a small orchestra quietly played music. A choir led the group in the national anthem and at the conclusion, the school's alma mater.
Speaking at the event, Chancellor Phil Dubois was at times emotional.
"These next days, weeks and months will test our collective strength," Dubois said. "But as I said yesterday, we have no course but to hold up each other, to work through this together and to reaffirm our 49er purpose."
Representatives of the Student Government Association and organizers of the vigil also spoke at the event. St. Thomas Aquinas Church donated more than 1,700 candles for a candlelight service after the events inside the basketball stadium.
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"We are Charlotte strong, just look at the vigil tonight and how we came together," senior Brittany Moose said. "You always see on the news stuff like this happening but you don't understand what it is going to be like until it hits close to home at your school."
Dubois is encouraging students to visit on-campus counselors and to check in their friends and family.
"UNC Charlotte cannot be and will not be defined by this tragedy. We must be defined by how we respond to it," Dubois said.