Buffalo Strong to Mark Two Years Since Deadly Mass Shooting

(KNSI) — The community of Buffalo is marking two years since a deadly mass shooting at a clinic.

Buffalo Strong Week 2023 is coming February 6th through the 10th and will feature a slate of events designed to care, connect and support one another.

A schedule of free community events has been scheduled and includes Happiness in Action, which is a service and social event where participants will create happiness bags filled with useful items to be delivered to those in need. February 9th, the second anniversary of the tragedy, will include a destress day at the Buffalo Community Center to explore how stress, mindset, movement and social interaction can impact all areas of wellness. That day people are also encouraged to take part in Light it Purple. Residents and businesses are asked to light up their homes and buildings in purple that day to remind the victims, survivors and their families that they are loved and supported and that the community stands with them. Those looking for purple bulbs, click here.

The Buffalo Culvers will participate in Burgers for Buffalo, and a portion of sales will go to Buffalo Strong to support community health and wellness.

The day is capped off with a showing of the film Angst: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety. The screening starts at 6:30 at Buffalo High School, and it’s free, but seating is limited. People are encouraged to reserve tickets. Learn more by clicking here.

Shirts, hats and sweatshirts supporting Buffalo Stong can be bought at the Buffalo Area Chamber of Commerce. Proceeds support community wellness and mental health efforts. In the last year, Buffalo Strong donated nearly $16,000 to Buffalo-Montrose-Hanover School District, Wright County United Way, Central Minnesota Mental Health Care and the Allina Foundation.

February 9th, 2021, Gregory Ulrich is accused of walking into the Allina Crossroads Clinic in Buffalo and opening fire. Killed in the shooting was 37-year-old wife and mother of two Lindsay Overbay. Overbay was a medical assistant at the clinic and enrolled at St. Cloud Technical and Community College. Overbay was also a graduate of St. Cloud State University. Four others were seriously injured in the attack, including one shot six times. Ulrich also allegedly detonated two improvised explosive devices – one at the clinic’s entrance and the other near a desk in the clinic’s interior.

Ulrich was convicted in June of 2022 of first-degree premeditated murder for killing Overbay and four counts of attempted first-degree premeditated murder for the four others. He was also convicted on one count of second-degree murder while committing a felony, three counts of first-degree assault, one count of second-degree assault, and one count of discharging an explosive device.

He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

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