Whenever America witnesses a mass shooting — a painfully, tragically frequent occurrence these days — I think of something George W. Bush once said about the people killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks: “Every one of the victims who died on September 11th was the most important person on earth to somebody.”

Likewise, every one of the Capital Gazette staffers murdered yesterday at their offices in Annapolis was the most important person on earth to somebody. Our hearts go out to the families, friends, and colleagues they left behind.

In the coming days, we will learn more about the shooter and what drove him to commit an act of pure evil. For now, as we mourn the five people who died — Gerald Fischman (the editorial-page editor), Rob Hiaasen (an editor and columnist), John McNamara (a sports reporter and editor), Rebecca Smith (a sales assistant), and Wendi Winters (a reporter and columnist) — let us also celebrate the lives they lived, the work they did, and the indelible memories they created for those who knew and loved them.