Josephine Grace Joey Gay was seven and a first-grade student at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Born in Maryland and the youngest of three daughters, she was described as having a contagious smile, loving the color purple, enjoying bike rides, lemonade stands, Barbie dolls and her iPad. Josephine was on the autism spectrum and nonverbal, but family remembered her clever, sometimes mischievous ways of communicating.

On the morning of December 14, 2012, Josephine was in her classroom when a 20-year-old man forced his way into the school and opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle. Twenty children and six adult staff members were killed in the attack; Josephine was among the children who died. Investigators concluded the attacker planned and carried out the shooting alone; no other suspects were identified.

Josephine’s death left her community grieving the loss of a child known for bringing light to those around her. If anyone knew Josephine or has information about that day that hasn’t been shared, please come forward.