University of Idaho holds vigil for four deceased students: ‘We have lost four beautiful souls’

MOSCOW, Idaho – Thousands of people gathered Wednesday evening at the University of Idaho in Moscow to pay their respects to the four students killed on November 13.

Ethan Chapin, 20; Xana Kernodle, 20; Madison Mogen, 21; and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, all University of Idaho students, were stabbed to death likely while they slept on Nov. 13 between 3 and 4 a.m. at a home in Moscow, Idaho, on King Road near the the college campusaccording to the police.

The assailant used a « fixed blade knife » to kill the victims, police said, adding that no suspects were identified on Wednesday.

Several families of the victims spoke at the vigil, which ended with a minute of silence for each person killed in the attack.

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Steve Goncalves, Kaylee’s father, spoke at the vigil and said « we have lost four beautiful souls ».

He said Kaylee and Mogen had been best friends since sixth grade and did everything together.

« They did their homework together. They came to our house together. They shared everything… They convinced us. They offered to go to high school, to a regular high school. So they went to high school together, » said Goncalves.

Their friendship continued in college, where Goncalves said the two got an apartment together « and in the end they died together in the same room, in the same bed. »

« It’s a shame and it hurts. But the beauty of the two of you still being together is something that goes well, it comforts us. It lets us know that they were with their best friends all over the world. C It’s like a book, » Goncalves said. said.

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Stacy Chapin, Ethan’s mother, said that while she can’t change what’s happened over the past few weeks, she wants to « share Ethan’s legacy. »

« So that’s where we choose to focus our energy because we’re now the voice of Ethan. What I want you to know is that our family is no different than most or probably all your families, » Chapin said. « We are forever grateful to have spent so much time with him. »

Chapin told the audience to « spend as much time as possible » with his family, adding that « time is precious and it’s something you can’t get back. »

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Ben Mogen, Madison’s father, said he always bragged about his daughter when talking to other people.

« When I met people since she was born, when I met people, I said they were telling me about you, » Mogen said. « The first thing I would say is, well, I’ve got this girl and she’s, you know, here’s a picture of her. She’s on the dean’s list…and she works hard, and she’s got all these great friends, the sorority.”

« I would just tell them all about Maddie, » he said.

University of Idaho President Scott Green said the losses « weigh particularly heavily on our many upon many at our university. »

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Susan Ellis attended the vigil on Wednesday and told Fox News Digital there was a sense of fear in the community following the deaths of the four students.

« Now we close our doors. Now, you know, we make sure we know who’s walking next to us, » Ellis said. « People talk about it among themselves, you know, just trying to figure out where do we go from here? We’re not the innocent community that we used to be anymore. »

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Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Moscow police at 208-883-7054 or email tipline@ci.moscow.id.us.

Fox News’ Michael Ruiz, Paul Best, Stephanie Pagones and Audrey Conklin contributed to this report.