This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/02/las-vegas-victims-named-full-list

The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Identities of Las Vegas shooting victims begin to emerge Identities of Las Vegas shooting victims begin to emerge
(about 5 hours later)
A registered nurse from Tennessee and a mechanic’s apprentice from Maple Ridge, British Columbia, were among the first identified victims of Sunday night’s mass shooting in Las Vegas.A registered nurse from Tennessee and a mechanic’s apprentice from Maple Ridge, British Columbia, were among the first identified victims of Sunday night’s mass shooting in Las Vegas.
The music festival attracted more than 20,000 spectators from all over the country and beyond. As more victims begin to be identified, they will probably hail from a long list of different cities and towns.
Sonny Melton
Sonny Melton, 29, who lived in Big Sandy, Tennessee, and worked at a nearby hospital, was the first victim publicly identified. Family members confirmed to the news station WSMV that he was killed in the gunfire.Sonny Melton, 29, who lived in Big Sandy, Tennessee, and worked at a nearby hospital, was the first victim publicly identified. Family members confirmed to the news station WSMV that he was killed in the gunfire.
His wife, Heather Melton, told WZTV that her husband had shielded her from bullets on the ground when the shooting began. “He saved my life and lost his,” she said.His wife, Heather Melton, told WZTV that her husband had shielded her from bullets on the ground when the shooting began. “He saved my life and lost his,” she said.
A friend of the couple told the Paris (Tennessee) Post-Intelligencer that the two had gotten married about a year ago.A friend of the couple told the Paris (Tennessee) Post-Intelligencer that the two had gotten married about a year ago.
“I want everyone to know what a kindhearted loving man he was, but at this point I can barely breathe,” Heather Melton wrote to USA Today.“I want everyone to know what a kindhearted loving man he was, but at this point I can barely breathe,” Heather Melton wrote to USA Today.
The couple both worked at Henry County medical center in Tennessee, he as a registered nurse, she as an orthopedic surgeon. “The thoughts and prayers of the entire HCMC family are with Sonny and Heather’s families,” the center’s chief executive, Thomas Gee, said in a statement.The couple both worked at Henry County medical center in Tennessee, he as a registered nurse, she as an orthopedic surgeon. “The thoughts and prayers of the entire HCMC family are with Sonny and Heather’s families,” the center’s chief executive, Thomas Gee, said in a statement.
Jordan McIldoon
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported that a 23-year-old British Columbia man, Jordan McIldoon, was also among the dead, according to his parents. Another concertgoer posted on Facebook on Sunday night that McIldoon had “died in [her] arms”.The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported that a 23-year-old British Columbia man, Jordan McIldoon, was also among the dead, according to his parents. Another concertgoer posted on Facebook on Sunday night that McIldoon had “died in [her] arms”.
“We only had one child,” McIldoon’s parents told CBC. “We just don’t know what to do.”“We only had one child,” McIldoon’s parents told CBC. “We just don’t know what to do.”
The music festival attracted more than 20,000 spectators from all over the country and beyond. As more victims begin to be identified, they will probably hail from a long list of different cities and towns. Bailey Schweitzer
Local outlets in Bakersfield, California, have confirmed with family members that 20-year-old Bailey Schweitzer was killed in the attack. Local outlets in Bakersfield, California, have confirmed with family members that 20-year-old Bailey Schweitzer was killed in the attack. The Los Angeles Times reported that Schweitzer was a receptionist at Infinity Communications and Consulting, a software company in Bakersfield.
Further downstate, San Bernardino County officials announced in an email to staff that Dana Gardner, a longtime county employee, had died this morning from gunshot wounds sustained in the onslaught. Five other county employees who were also at the concert are said to have been injured. “Bailey was always the ray of sunshine in our office on a cloudy day,” Infinity’s chief executive Fred Brakeman told the Times. “No one could possibly have a bad day when Bailey was around. If you have ever called or visited our office, she was the perky one that helped direct you to the staff member you needed.”
Jessica Klymchuk, an Edmonton, Alberta, woman, has also been confirmed dead in the shooting. In a statement, Alberta’s premier, Rachel Notley, called the incident an “act of violence that is almost beyond comprehension in a time of peace”. Dana Gardner
The first Las Vegas resident identified as a victim was 20-year-old Quinton Robbins, a student at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. On Facebook, a woman who identified herself as Robbins’s aunt wrote: “He was the most kind and loving soul. Everyone who met him loved him. His contagious laugh and smile. He was truly an amazing person.” Further downstate, San Bernardino County officials announced in an email to staff that Dana Gardner, 52, a longtime county employee, had died Monday morning from gunshot wounds sustained in the onslaught. Five other county employees who were also at the concert are said to have been injured.
A Tewksbury, Massachusetts, woman, Rhonda LeRocque, and a Martinsville, West Virginia woman, Denise Burditus, have also been reported as victims of the mass killing as more names emerged throughout the day. Bob Dutton, the assessor-recorder-county clerk, told the Sun that Gardner, the deputy recorder Dana Gardner, 52, was a “go-to” person and a “dedicated public servant”.
Burditus’s husband, who was also at the concert, wrote on Facebook: “It saddens me to say that I lost my wife of 32 years, a mother of two, soon to be grandmother of five this evening in the Las Vegas shooting,” Tony Burditus wrote. “Denise passed in my arms. I LOVE YOU BABE.” Jessica Klymchuk
The city of Manhattan Beach, California, lost both a middle school teacher, 35-year-old Sandy Casey, and a 10-year veteran civilian employee of its police department, Rachael Parker. Jessica Klymchuk, an Edmonton, Alberta, mother of four, was also confirmed dead in the shooting. In a statement, Alberta’s premier, Rachel Notley, called the incident an “act of violence that is almost beyond comprehension in a time of peace”.
At least 59 people were killed in what is now the deadliest mass shooting in US history when a gunman opened fire on an open-air music festival from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel and casino on the Las Vegas strip. Klymchuk worked as an educational assistant, librarian and bus driver for St Stephen’s School, according to the Edmonton Journal.
Tina Moore, who had worked with Klymchuk, said: “She did so much for her children. She went over and above for them.”
Klymchuk was in Vegas with her fiance for the music festival.
Quinton Robbins
The first Las Vegas resident identified as a victim was 20-year-old Quinton Robbins, a student at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
On Facebook, a woman who identified herself as Robbins’s aunt wrote: “He was the most kind and loving soul. Everyone who met him loved him. His contagious laugh and smile. He was truly an amazing person.”
Rhonda LeRocque
Rhonda LeRocque, of Tewksbury, Massachusetts, was identified as a victim by relatives. Her family told Boston 25 News that she was with her husband, Jason, when she was shot in the back of the head.
“[Her husband] thought she ducked and she didn’t – she was caught in the back of the head,” Rhonda’s half-sister Jennifer Zelenski said.
Denise Burditus
Denise Burditus, of Martinsville, West Virginia, was also among the first victims to be identified.
Her husband, who was also at the concert, mourned her on Facebook. “It saddens me to say that I lost my wife of 32 years, a mother of two, soon to be grandmother of five this evening in the Las Vegas shooting,” Tony Burditus wrote. “Denise passed in my arms. I LOVE YOU BABE.”
Sandy Casey
The city of Manhattan Beach, California, lost Sandy Casey, 35, a middle school teacher. A local paper, the Daily Breeze, reported that Casey was a special-education teacher from Redondo Beach, and had attended the Route 91 Harvest festival with a group of fellow teachers, principals and staff members from Manhattan Beach Unified, which shared news of her death in an email to parents.
Casey was engaged to Christopher Willemse, a special-education aide, according to the Daily Breeze. He shared a photo of the couple on Facebook and wrote: “As I sit and mourn such a beautiful life gone too fast, all I can say is look up and watch the birds fly high and free today as that’s where I feel you smiling down upon all of us. I love you baby girl! Love you to pieces!”
Rachael Parker
Also of Manhattan Beach, Rachael Parker was a 10-year veteran civilian employee of its police department.
Her mother, Robin Monter, told KXLY, a TV news station in Spokane, that Parker was “brilliant and had a heart of gold”. She also said her daughter volunteered with the elderly and the homeless.
Angela Gomez
A 2015 graduate of Riverside Polytechnic high school in Riverside, California, Angela Gomez was identified by the Riverside Unified school district as one of the victims, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
On Monday, a Facebook post read: “It is with heavy hearts that we inform you that one of the victims of the Las Vegas shooting tragedy was a 2015 graduate of Riverside Poly High School.”
The high school’s staff described Gomez as “fun-loving young lady with a great sense of humor” who had a “warm heart and loving spirit”.
Gomez, a cheerleader in high school, was described by her former English teacher and cheer coach, Lupe Avila, as a “wonderful young woman who had her whole life ahead of her”.
Charleston Hartfield
An off-duty Las Vegas police officer and military veteran named Charleston Hartfield was identified by friends as a victim, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
“I don’t know a better man than Charles,” said Troy Rhett, who said he’d been friends with Hartfield for eight years. “They say it’s always the good ones we lose early. There’s no truer statement than that with Charles.”
Stan King, who wrote “RIP Brother” on Hartfield’s Facebook page, told the Review-Journal that Hartfield was “one of the nicest guys ever” and would be remembered as “the most true-blue American guy I’ve ever met”.