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| Texas Boy Known as ‘Copeland Crush’ and His Father Are Mourned | Texas Boy Known as ‘Copeland Crush’ and His Father Are Mourned |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| AUSTIN, Tex. — Brodie Copeland, 11, one of the victims of the attack in Nice, France, was such a hard-hitting baseball player that teammates at his club in Texas called him the “Copeland Crush.” | AUSTIN, Tex. — Brodie Copeland, 11, one of the victims of the attack in Nice, France, was such a hard-hitting baseball player that teammates at his club in Texas called him the “Copeland Crush.” |
| He played second base on a team for boys his age with the Hill Country Baseball Club, near Austin. | He played second base on a team for boys his age with the Hill Country Baseball Club, near Austin. |
| The owner of the club, Jonathan Paiz, said Brodie got his nickname because he would “crush” it when at bat. | The owner of the club, Jonathan Paiz, said Brodie got his nickname because he would “crush” it when at bat. |
| “Basically he would get up there and hit the ball hard,” Mr. Paiz said in a telephone interview. | “Basically he would get up there and hit the ball hard,” Mr. Paiz said in a telephone interview. |
| Brodie and his father, Sean Copeland, 51, were two of the victims of the attack, which killed at least 82 others, including nine other children and teenagers. There were 202 people wounded. | Brodie and his father, Sean Copeland, 51, were two of the victims of the attack, which killed at least 82 others, including nine other children and teenagers. There were 202 people wounded. |
| Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas, referring to the attack’s coming less than a year after the attacks in and around Paris, said that for the second time in nine months, the French flag was being flown over the Texas Governor’s Mansion in remembrance. | Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas, referring to the attack’s coming less than a year after the attacks in and around Paris, said that for the second time in nine months, the French flag was being flown over the Texas Governor’s Mansion in remembrance. |
| “While every heinous attack like this is tragic,” he said in a statement, “this latest one hits close to home.” | “While every heinous attack like this is tragic,” he said in a statement, “this latest one hits close to home.” |
| The Copelands were the only two Americans who had been confirmed dead on Friday morning. | The Copelands were the only two Americans who had been confirmed dead on Friday morning. |
| Three students from the University of California, Berkeley, were among the injured, according to a statement released on Friday by the school. A fourth student, Nicolas Leslie, 20, was unaccounted for on Friday morning. They were among 85 students who were on a study abroad program with the university. | |
| The Copeland family lived in Lakeway, Tex., near Austin. They were on a vacation that began in Pamplona and Barcelona, Spain, before moving on to the south of France. | The Copeland family lived in Lakeway, Tex., near Austin. They were on a vacation that began in Pamplona and Barcelona, Spain, before moving on to the south of France. |
| Mr. Copeland was traveling with his wife, Kim, whose 40th birthday celebration on Monday was part of the reason they went on the trip. In addition to Brodie, Mr. Copeland’s other children, his son Austin, 22, and daughter Maegan, 29, from a previous marriage accompanied them, said Jess Davis, a family representative. | Mr. Copeland was traveling with his wife, Kim, whose 40th birthday celebration on Monday was part of the reason they went on the trip. In addition to Brodie, Mr. Copeland’s other children, his son Austin, 22, and daughter Maegan, 29, from a previous marriage accompanied them, said Jess Davis, a family representative. |
| On Friday in Lakeway, an affluent Hill Country community, neighbors were getting the news about the Copelands as they were starting their day. | On Friday in Lakeway, an affluent Hill Country community, neighbors were getting the news about the Copelands as they were starting their day. |
| Many were stunned that an act of violence in Europe could reach thousands of miles across the Atlantic to invade their peaceful town. | Many were stunned that an act of violence in Europe could reach thousands of miles across the Atlantic to invade their peaceful town. |
| “It’s heartbreaking for everybody,” said Dianne Wood, who lives a few houses up the street from the Copelands and knew the family well. “The Copelands are a sweet family, and we just want to respect their privacy.” | “It’s heartbreaking for everybody,” said Dianne Wood, who lives a few houses up the street from the Copelands and knew the family well. “The Copelands are a sweet family, and we just want to respect their privacy.” |
| She described Brodie Copeland as “an incredible boy — so much life, so much personality.” | She described Brodie Copeland as “an incredible boy — so much life, so much personality.” |
| A video posted online by the family shows Brodie as a 7-year-old getting a loose tooth pulled out by a string attached to a baseball, which is then whacked by a fellow player. | A video posted online by the family shows Brodie as a 7-year-old getting a loose tooth pulled out by a string attached to a baseball, which is then whacked by a fellow player. |
| A tribute to the father and son was set up on the Facebook page of the Hill Country team, where Brodie had been playing baseball since 2014. It shows Brodie frolicking in the French Riviera waters. | A tribute to the father and son was set up on the Facebook page of the Hill Country team, where Brodie had been playing baseball since 2014. It shows Brodie frolicking in the French Riviera waters. |
| “Immediately, he made an impact on all of the coaches at HC,” said a fund-raising page set up by Mr. Paiz. “Sean was very supportive and proud to be a part of the HC family.” | “Immediately, he made an impact on all of the coaches at HC,” said a fund-raising page set up by Mr. Paiz. “Sean was very supportive and proud to be a part of the HC family.” |
| Aaron Cable, head of player development for the baseball club, described Brodie as popular, funny, mature and fun to be around. | Aaron Cable, head of player development for the baseball club, described Brodie as popular, funny, mature and fun to be around. |
| “You could have adult conversations with him when he was nine years old,” Cable said in a statement provided by Jess Davis, a family spokeswoman. | |
| Brodie also loved to act and hoped to perform professionally someday either as an actor or comedian, according to the statement. | |
| Through working with Brodie, Cable got to know Mr. Copeland, a committed father. | Through working with Brodie, Cable got to know Mr. Copeland, a committed father. |
| “He would do whatever he needed to do to make sure Brodie got baseball lessons, acting lessons, and everything he ever needed or wanted,” Cable said. | “He would do whatever he needed to do to make sure Brodie got baseball lessons, acting lessons, and everything he ever needed or wanted,” Cable said. |
| Mr. Copeland worked at Lexmark Corporation, which released a statement after learning of his death.. “Sean was not only a terrific leader in the company but a phenomenal person who will be dearly missed. Our hearts go out to Sean and his family, and for everyone who is suffering in France and elsewhere from this senseless violent act,” it said. | |
| Brodie had just finished fifth grade at Lakeway Elementary School and was preparing to attend Hudson Bend Middle School in the fall. Although school is out for the summer, grief over Brodie’s death was palpable among Lakeway teachers preparing their classrooms for the start of school. | Brodie had just finished fifth grade at Lakeway Elementary School and was preparing to attend Hudson Bend Middle School in the fall. Although school is out for the summer, grief over Brodie’s death was palpable among Lakeway teachers preparing their classrooms for the start of school. |
| “He was just a very sweet, kind young man,” said Joy Crenshaw, a special-education teacher who often saw Brodie in the school cafeteria. “He always had a smile on his face.” | “He was just a very sweet, kind young man,” said Joy Crenshaw, a special-education teacher who often saw Brodie in the school cafeteria. “He always had a smile on his face.” |
| Two of Mr. Copeland’s brothers are set to fly to Nice with the State Department to pick up the family and bring everyone home, according to a statement provided by Ms. Davis. | Two of Mr. Copeland’s brothers are set to fly to Nice with the State Department to pick up the family and bring everyone home, according to a statement provided by Ms. Davis. |
| Online, the baseball group’s Facebook page became a forum for remembrance and mourning. | Online, the baseball group’s Facebook page became a forum for remembrance and mourning. |
| “No words can describe how we feel,” wrote Jeff Petry. “Sean and Brodie touched our lives in so many ways. Such a good man and a great kid and teammate.” | “No words can describe how we feel,” wrote Jeff Petry. “Sean and Brodie touched our lives in so many ways. Such a good man and a great kid and teammate.” |
| “We will miss you #8,” wrote another man, Bill Bishop, referring to Brodie’s jersey number. “You will be missed but we know you were needed for bigger and better things.” | “We will miss you #8,” wrote another man, Bill Bishop, referring to Brodie’s jersey number. “You will be missed but we know you were needed for bigger and better things.” |