BALTIMORE (WJZ)— Friday marks the one-week anniversary of the shooting massacre at a Connecticut elementary school. All across the country and here in Baltimore, we remember the 26 lives lost. Christie Ileto has more on what local leaders are doing to honor the victims of Sandy Hook Elementary.

Name by name, city leaders read aloud the 26 Sandy Hook elementary students and teachers whose lives were lost in a tragic shooting last Friday.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake says like every other American, she is also trying to make sense of what happened.

“Through a lot of prayer,” she said. “You listen to the bells and my mind couldn’t help what it must have been like for those children to look into the face of evil.”

At 9:30 a.m. on December 14, police say Adam Lanza barged into the school in Newtown, killing 20 young children who were just starting their lives and six adults who were trying to protect them.

“Those teachers who knew what they were facing, yet stood up for their kids…” Rawlings-Blake said.

The horror that followed spurred prayers across the country.

“I still can’t believe it. I was born and raised here and it’s just shocking,” a Newtown resident told CBS News.

Friday morning, Baltimore City leaders gathered on the cobblestones of City Hall to lead residents in an interfaith ceremony. Religious clergy said prayers and sang songs.

As the victims’ families say goodbye to their loved ones just before Christmas, Baltimore shares their pain and remembers the innocent lives lost. Also in many people’s prayers is the family of the shooter.

The flag outside City Hall is flying at half-staff.