OMAHA, Neb. —

A University of Nebraska Omaha student is taking one of the city's darkest days and creating art to reflect on her trauma.

Em Thomas was just 4 years old when gunfire erupted at Von Maur in 2007, killing eight people.

Even after 18 years, Thomas said the impact of that day is still with her.

Dec. 5, 2007, is a day Thomas said she can't forget.

"When I think about that day now, there is a lot of, I think anger and honestly confusion and a lot of sadness for my inner child," Thomas said.

Inside the UNO Art Gallery are images of child innocence mixed with mass gun violence and Omaha's Von Maur is the backdrop.

Thomas and her mom were at the Westroads Mall department store that day.

She was just 4 years old.

"We were in the process of heading towards the escalator to go

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