CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis.— As the Chippewa Falls community continues to grieve the loss of 10-year old-Lily Peters, many said they still have more questions than answers. Parents have been taking on extra precaution.
Parent Chelsea Torgerson chose to keep her 8-year-old daughter, Ava Johnson home, from school on Tuesday. They visited one of the memorial for Peters instead.
“I kept her home today,” said Torgerson. “I know she’s safe at school in there. They’re keeping a closer eye on all the kids at school and everything, [but] just for my own peace of mind I wanted her to stay home today.”
Hanging up drawings and tying purple ribbon around town, the close knit community rallied around the loss of a life gone to soon.
“I grew up in this town; I’ve pretty much lived here since I was in kindergarten,” said Torgerson. “I’ve always felt so safe and I know these thing happen everywhere, all over the world every day, but this is way too close.”
Parents were advised by both school administrators and law enforcement to drop off and pick up their students, lining up as the school day wrapped up Tuesday.
Becky Powers, a parent of a student at Parkview Elementary waited for her daughter at dismissal. She noticed pick up looked a bit different.
“It does feel different,” said Powers. “There’s a lot more parents here then there usually are.”
As concerns persisted, families in Chippewa Falls are staying watchful.
“I’m definitely keeping my kids closer— not letting the go out without us that’s for sure,” added Powers.
Emotions are running high for every community member, hoping to keep Peter’s memory alive.
“I wish there was more we could do,” said Torgerson. “So, we’re wearing purple today, to kind of leave Lily something she can look down on.”
On Tuesday evening, police said an arrest was made in connection to Peters' death. Police said they do not believe there is an active threat to the public at this time.