More than a hundred people gathered outside the Stafford County Government Center on Wednesday for a short service to remember Christopher Rapp, the county’s former public works director, who was killed in the Virginia Beach shootings last week.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a very emotional time for all of us,鈥� said Gary Snellings, the chairman of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors. 鈥淭o see him 鈥� just a kind, gentle, unassuming man 鈥� leave this world the way he did is just horrific.鈥�
Rapp’s successor, Jason Towery, was the assistant director when Rapp was there. He fought through tears to share his stories and respect for Rapp.
鈥淗e put other people first,鈥� said Towery. 鈥淗e was always thinking about the details. 鈥� He was able to balance the stress of working a job like this with the ability just to treat people like human beings.鈥�
The Virginia Beach deaths “changed everything鈥� about his perspective on mass shootings, Towery said afterward. 鈥淵ou see that person; you think about them. That鈥檚 not easy.鈥�
鈥淚 think everybody views them with horror and sadness 鈥� I know I did,鈥� Snellings said. 鈥淏ut, unless you have a personal connection, I don鈥檛 think you really understand how much damage that does to a family and a community 鈥� when it really comes home to you.鈥�
