By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

LAPLACE – More than 100 people gathered for a prayer vigil held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the LaPlace Feed Store, the site of a tragic shooting just a day earlier.

The store was the location of a robbery turned killing late Tuesday afternoon.

The store’s owners, married couple Steve Finckbeiner, 63, and Constance Finckbeiner, 58, were victims of the crime. Steve was pronounced dead at the scene, and Constance is recovering from injuries.

Rising Star Baptist Church in LaPlace organized the vigil. The Rev. Donald August of Rising Star said it was “really heart-breaking to see this tragedy happen to such good people.”

The Finckbeiners’ son Steven spoke at the vigil, saying that the community did “a great honor to my father and mother” by organizing the event.

“Thank you for supporting us in the past and hopefully your continued support in the future,” Steven said.

He told the crowd the store would be open for business tomorrow.