Five years after a gunman opened fire at Boise Towne Square Mall, survivor Mariela Contreras looks back on the day that changed her life and the community that helped her heal.
What happened on October 25, 2021
In the early afternoon of October 25, 2021, a shooter entered the mall, killing two people – Roberto Padilla Arguelles and mall security officer Jo Acker – and wounding four others. Boise police responded within minutes, and the gunman, identified as Jacob Bergquist, died from a self‑inflicted gunshot wound.
Contreras’s experience
Contreras, then an 18‑year‑old assistant manager at Zumiez, was working a typical shift when she heard “really loud popping sounds” and saw shoppers fleeing the entrance. She and a fellow assistant manager locked their store and retreated to the back room, where the chaos became a blur.
“I honestly can’t tell how much time had gone by,” she said. “It was a horrible feeling in my stomach, especially because I had seen Jo Acker that morning. I kind of knew she might be one of the victims.”
Returning to the mall
Contreras went back to the mall just days after the shooting and continued to work there for years. She says the decision was driven by the strong sense of community she felt at the mall.
“A lot of it was the community. I really loved everything I got to do with the people that I did,” she explained. “You get to interact with so many members of the community, and that’s why I stayed for so long after.”
Long‑term impact
While the mall reopened and life moved forward, Contreras admits the trauma lingered. She needed months – perhaps years – to feel comfortable in large spaces again, and loud noises still trigger anxiety.
“It took a couple of months, maybe even a couple of years for me to feel comfortable going into larger spaces or feeling like I could let my guard down,” she said.
Community resilience
Contreras emphasizes that the community’s response has been a source of pride. She believes the collective healing demonstrates the strength of Boise’s residents.
“You can’t expect someone to understand until they’ve gone through something like that. Now I reflect on the pain and the trauma the community went through, and I’m honestly really proud of how a lot of us have come out of it,” she said.
Remembering the victims
The mall continues to honor the memory of Roberto Padilla Arguelles and Jo Acker, whose lives were cut short that day. Their families and friends remain part of Boise’s broader story of perseverance.
As Boise marks the five‑year anniversary, the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of community support, vigilance, and compassion in the face of tragedy.
Original reporting: KIVI Idaho News 6 Boise metro (local) — read the source article.
