Memorial for Douglas County sheriff’s Deputy Zackari Parrish filled with tears, hugs, enormous grief
The ventilation system whooshed inside the cavernous church sanctuary, and the deputy’s widow stepped to the front. Gracie Parrish let out a long breath.
“Thank you for coming,” she began. “I am overwhelmed by the love and support of the community and the nation. Never in my world would I have imagined this.”
Thirty-six hours after her husband, Douglas County sheriff’s Deputy Zackari Parrish, was shot and killed responding to a call, this was her first time speaking publicly in remembrance of him.
Hundreds gathered inside Mission Hills Church in Littleton on Monday night to listen to her words. Earlier, volunteers carried armfuls of tissue boxes to set in the rows. Each person walked in holding an unlit candle, to be used later in the evening’s closing vigil.
But as Gracie Parrish spoke of her husband — holding the youngest of their two daughters in her arms — the church stilled.
“I will do everything in my power, Zack Parrish, to honor you,” she said in a choked voice, “and I will raise these girls to love you.”
Gracie Zacakri, left, is embraced by her small group as family, friends, and community attended a remembrance and candlelight vigil at Mission Hills Church on Monday January 1, 2018 for Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, in Littleton, Colorado. Parrish who lost his life after a barricaded suspect opened fire at an apartment complex in a Denver suburb, the Douglas County Sheriff said Sunday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
Gracie Parrish hold her daughters, Evie, left, and Caroline as she thanks those in attendance for coming to a remembrance and candlelight vigil at Mission Hills Church on Monday January 1, 2018 for her late husband Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, in Littleton, Colorado. Parrish who lost his life after a barricaded suspect opened fire at an apartment complex in a Denver suburb, the Douglas County Sheriff said Sunday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
Officer Sean R. Bigler of Elizabeth, Colorado becomes visibly emotional during the candlelight vigil at Mission Hills Church on Monday January 1, 2018 for Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, in Littleton, Colorado. Parrish who lost his life after a barricaded suspect opened fire at an apartment complex in a Denver suburb, the Douglas County Sheriff said Sunday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
Jesus Olivas takes a moment to look at a police cruiser that served as a makeshift memorial for Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, on Monday January 1, 2018 at the Douglas Country Sheriff Substation. Parrish who lost his life after a barricaded suspect opened fire at an apartment complex in a Denver suburb, the Douglas County Sheriff said Sunday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
Gracie Parrish, center, holds a candle for her late husband Zackari Parrish at Mission Hills Church on Monday January 1, 2018 in Littleton, Colorado. Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, lost his life after a barricaded suspect opened fire at an apartment complex in a Denver suburb, the Douglas County Sheriff said Sunday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
Officer Sean R. Bigler becomes visibly emotional during the candlelight vigil at Mission Hills Church on Monday January 1, 2018 for Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, in Littleton, Colorado. Parrish who lost his life after a barricaded suspect opened fire at an apartment complex in a Denver suburb, the Douglas County Sheriff said Sunday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
People attend a remembrance and candlelight vigil at Mission Hills Church on Monday January 1, 2018 for Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, in Littleton, Colorado. Parrish who lost his life after a barricaded suspect opened fire at an apartment complex in a Denver suburb, the Douglas County Sheriff said Sunday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
People attend a remembrance and candlelight vigil at Mission Hills Church on Monday January 1, 2018 for Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, in Littleton, Colorado. Parrish who lost his life after a barricaded suspect opened fire at an apartment complex in a Denver suburb, the Douglas County Sheriff said Sunday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
People attend a remembrance and candlelight vigil at Mission Hills Church on Monday January 1, 2018 for Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, in Littleton, Colorado. Parrish who lost his life after a barricaded suspect opened fire at an apartment complex in a Denver suburb, the Douglas County Sheriff said Sunday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
Jesus Olivas takes a moment to look at a police cruiser that served as a makeshift memorial for Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, on Monday January 1, 2018 at the Douglas Country Sheriff Substation. Parrish who lost his life after a barricaded suspect opened fire at an apartment complex in a Denver suburb, the Douglas County Sheriff said Sunday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
Jesus Olivas takes a moment to look at a police cruiser that served as a makeshift memorial for Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, on Monday January 1, 2018 at the Douglas Country Sheriff Substation. Parrish who lost his life after a barricaded suspect opened fire at an apartment complex in a Denver suburb, the Douglas County Sheriff said Sunday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
People attend a remembrance and candlelight vigil at Mission Hills Church on Monday January 1, 2018 for Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, in Littleton, Colorado. Parrish who lost his life after a barricaded suspect opened fire at an apartment complex in a Denver suburb, the Douglas County Sheriff said Sunday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
Jesus Olivas takes a moment to look at a police cruiser that served as a makeshift memorial for Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, on Monday January 1, 2018 at the Douglas Country Sheriff Substation. Parrish who lost his life after a barricaded suspect opened fire at an apartment complex in a Denver suburb, the Douglas County Sheriff said Sunday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
Jesus Olivas takes a moment to look at a police cruiser that served as a makeshift memorial for Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, on Monday January 1, 2018 at the Douglas Country Sheriff Substation. Parrish who lost his life after a barricaded suspect opened fire at an apartment complex in a Denver suburb, the Douglas County Sheriff said Sunday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
Gracie Parrish, left, is embraced by a small group as family, friends, and community attended a remembrance and candlelight vigil at Mission Hills Church on Monday January 1, 2018, for Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, in Littleton, Colorado. Parrish lost his life after a barricaded suspect opened fire at an apartment complex in a Denver suburb, the Douglas County Sheriff said Sunday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
People attend a remembrance and candlelight vigil at Mission Hills Church on Monday January 1, 2018 for Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, in Littleton, Colorado. Parrish who lost his life after a barricaded suspect opened fire at an apartment complex in a Denver suburb, the Douglas County Sheriff said Sunday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
People attend a remembrance and candlelight vigil at Mission Hills Church on Monday January 1, 2018 for Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, in Littleton, Colorado. Parrish who lost his life after a barricaded suspect opened fire at an apartment complex in a Denver suburb, the Douglas County Sheriff said Sunday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
People attend a remembrance and candlelight vigil at Mission Hills Church on Monday January 1, 2018 for Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, in Littleton, Colorado. Parrish who lost his life after a barricaded suspect opened fire at an apartment complex in a Denver suburb, the Douglas County Sheriff said Sunday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
Gracie Parrish hold her daughters, Evie, left, and Caroline as she thanks those in attendance for coming to a remembrance and candlelight vigil at Mission Hills Church on Monday January 1, 2018 for her late husband Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, in Littleton, Colorado. Parrish who lost his life after a barricaded suspect opened fire at an apartment complex in a Denver suburb, the Douglas County Sheriff said Sunday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
Jesus Olivas takes a moment to look at a police cruiser that served as a makeshift memorial for Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, on Monday January 1, 2018 at the Douglas Country Sheriff Substation. Parrish who lost his life after a barricaded suspect opened fire at an apartment complex in a Denver suburb, the Douglas County Sheriff said Sunday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
People attend a remembrance and candlelight vigil at Mission Hills Church on Monday January 1, 2018 for Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, in Littleton, Colorado. Parrish who lost his life after a barricaded suspect opened fire at an apartment complex in a Denver suburb, the Douglas County Sheriff said Sunday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
Officer Sean R. Bigler of Elizabeth, Colorado becomes visibly emotional during the candlelight vigil at Mission Hills Church on Monday January 1, 2018 for Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, in Littleton, Colorado. Parrish who lost his life after a barricaded suspect opened fire at an apartment complex in a Denver suburb, the Douglas County Sheriff said Sunday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
Gracie Parrish, center, holds a candle for her late husband Zackari Parrish at Mission Hills Church on Monday January 1, 2018 in Littleton, Colorado. Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, lost his life after a barricaded suspect opened fire at an apartment complex in a Denver suburb, the Douglas County Sheriff said Sunday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
Officer Sean R. Bigler becomes visibly emotional during the candlelight vigil at Mission Hills Church on Monday January 1, 2018 for Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, in Littleton, Colorado. Parrish who lost his life after a barricaded suspect opened fire at an apartment complex in a Denver suburb, the Douglas County Sheriff said Sunday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).