Candlelight vigil held in honor of Elijah Heacock

GLASGOW, Ky – Thursday night at Beaver Trail Park in Glasgow, a community candlelight vigil was held in honor for Elijah Heacock to help spread awareness towards suicide prevention and sextortion.

Many people from the community showed up to give to their support to the Heacock family and others who have lost loved ones.

“Tonight’s just more about prevention. It’s just making everybody in the community aware of, you know, just talking to people. If kids are in trouble, we want them to know there’s always resources out there rather than, you know, it’s more about suicide prevention month is what it’s more about,” said Barren County Judge Executive Jamie Bewley Byrd.

Elijah’s family have been strong advocates of suicide prevention and sextortion since he died, traveling to Washington D.C. in search for change.

“This is a club I would not invite you to where, you know, by bullying, by mental health, by sextortion, by many causes. I just want reach someone so they know that they matter,” said Shannon Heacock, Elijah’s Mother. “If I save one child, that’s all that matters. If I can reach one child, I will have done my job.”

While at the vigil Judge Executive Byrd signed a proclamation in honor of Suicide Prevention Month.

“We want people to know there’s resources out there. I’ve even talked to groups that have online access to people that kids, you know, kids use technology constantly.” Byrd said.