A memorial continued to grow outside a popular gym in Coral Gables Monday morning where two employees were shot and killed by a former worker over the weekend.
Late Monday, the first responders who rushed into that gym minutes after the shooting were honored by the University of Miami at the Cane's baseball game.
The Equinox Gym at the Shops at Merrick Park reopened two days later with modified hours following the Saturday afternoon shooting that claimed the lives of 35-year-old Janine Ackerman and 42-year-old Marios Hortis.
People who knew the gunman, 33-year-old Abeku Wilson, are shocked that he was capable of such a horrendous act.
"He was always a very calm person the times that I've met him here," Alex Odio told NBC 6, "He seemed like a mild-mannered, gentle person, likeable and friendly with everybody. So, it's something that obviously pushed him over the edge."
Miami-Dade Police said the gunman had been a trainer at the gym but was fired earlier in the day "due to work place violence."
Wilson returned with a handgun and shot Ackerman, the gym's general manager, multiple times, police said. He then shot Hortis, another gym employee, before turning the gun on himself, police said.
Ackerman and Hortis were airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center, where they later died. Wilson was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following fatal @Equinox shooting #CoralGables gym will open today with modified hours. Attached is message emailed to members. More @nbc6 pic.twitter.com/0viqJK5xD0
— Melissa Adan (@MelissaNBC6) April 10, 2017
Wilson had recently divorced his wife of three years in January.
On Sunday night, a vigil of more than 100 people mourned the lives lost in the sudden violence.
"I think it's just such a tragic, horrible, unnecessary situation that affected some really nice people," said gym member Julie Neitzel. "There were a lot of people hugging, all of us, whether we're members or people who work there, we hugged one another and I think we will hug our way through this and try to move forward."
On Thursday, the Baptist Health Gables Run Club plans to dedicate its run to the victims.
"I think a lot of people liked Abeku whether they trained with him or not, Janine was a very sweet, kind, young woman," Neitzel said.
Local
Equinox executive chairman Harvey Spevak released a statement Sunday saying the tragedy "has impacted everyone in the Equinox family. Our team members, Janine Ackerman, Coral Gables General Manager, and Marios Hortis, our Coral Gables Fitness Manager, were beautiful souls lost way too soon. We send our love and condolences to their families and friends. We also wish to thank the entire Equinox community for its outpouring of support and kindness in the wake of this senseless tragedy."
