Las Vegas victims: Engaged school teacher and off-duty police officer among 59 killed in America's worst ever mass shooting

Bailey Schweitzer, a 20-year-old receptionist, was among the 59 killed in the US's worst ever mass shooting
Tom Powell3 October 2017

An engaged schoolteacher, a young lawyer and an off-duty police officer are among at least 59 people who were shot dead at a country music festival in Las Vegas.

They were killed when Stephen Paddock, 64, opened fire on the crowd at the Route 91 Harvest festival from a 32nd floor hotel room across the road.

More than 500 people were also injured in what is the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history.

Details are beginning to emerge about the victims as families receive confirmation of their deaths from hospitals and local authorities.

In a few cases, families are still frantically searching for news a day later.

Many have launched fundraising campaigns for the children and families left behind, while others have vowed to start scholarship funds in their loved ones' names.

Sonny Melton at the Route 91 Harvest festival with his wife Heather
Facebook

Sonny Melton, a registered nurse and the first named victim of the Las Vegas gun massacre, saved his wife's life before he was shot dead.

His wife, Dr Heather Melton, an orthopaedic surgeon who was with him when shots were fired, said that her husband was “the most kind-hearted, loving man” she ever met.

Friend Jeremy Butler added that Mr Melton was shielding his wife from gunfire when he was fatally shot.

Off-duty Las Vegas police officer and youth football coach Charleston Hartfield was also among those killed, two of his friends said.

Off-duty police officer Charleston Hartfield was among the victims

Mr Hartfield, 34, was known as a selfless, respected leader who brought out the best in his players, said Stan King, whose son played football for Mr Hartfield.

Mr Hartfield, who also went by "Chuck" or "Charles" or even "Chucky Hart," was also a military veteran and leaves behind a son and a daughter.

Another victim, Denise Burditus, reportedly died in her husband’s arms.

Tony Burditus saw his wife Denise die in the shooting (Facebook)

Tony Burditus wrote on his Facebook page: "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.

"Denise passed in my arms. I LOVE YOU BABE."

Denise Burditus' Facebook page includes a photo of her and her husband at the same festival last year. Mandalay Bay, the hotel where the gunman opened fire, is shown in the background.

Another victim, Lisa Romero, 48, a high school secretary from Gallup, New Mexico, was an "incredible loving and sincere friend, mentor and advocate for students," the Gallup-McKinley County Public Schools superintendent said.

"Last night during the mass shooting in Las Vegas we lost one of our staff members," they said. "Lisa Romero, discipline secretary at Miyamura (High School), was a victim in the shooting. Our prayers go out to her family during this tragic time."

High school secretary Lisa Romero died in the shooting (© Facebook)

Tributes have been paid to Bailey Schweitzer, a 20-year-old receptionist from Bakersfield, who was another victim of the massacre.

Two Canadians - a mother-of-four and a man just days from his 24th birthday – were also among those killed in the shooting.

Jessica Klymchuk, of Valleyview, Alberta, and Jordan McIldoon, 23, of Maple Ridge, British Columbia, both died.

Shooting victim: Jessica Klymchuk
Facebook

Ms Klymchuk, 28, was an educational assistant, librarian and bus driver for St Stephen's School, said the Holy Family Catholic Regional Division.

"The scope of this tragedy is worldwide, and we are feeling its impact here at home," the division's superintendent, Betty Turpin, said in a statement.

A post on Ms Klymchuk's Facebook page said she got engaged in April, and was in Vegas with her fiance.

British Columbia Premier John Horgan said in a statement that Mr Mclldoon, a mechanic's apprentice, was among those killed.

"We only had one child," parents Al and Angela McIldoon, told the CBC. "We just don't know what to do."

The death of Canadian Jordan McIldoon, 23, was confirmed by his parents

Mr Horgan offered condolences and said flags will be dropped to half-staff on the province's Parliament buildings and on government buildings in Maple Ridge.

Mother-of-two Susan Smith, 53, a resident of Simi Valley, California, near Los Angeles, was also named as a victim.

Jake Finch, the public information officer for the district, said: "Susan was wonderful with the kids and the staff and was an integral part of the school community here.

"She was the hub of everything that happened at the school. If a kid is sick, she's the one calling the parents and no matter how chaotic things got here, she was always smiling."

School office manager Susan Smith was among those killed
Facebook

Rachael Parker, a police records technician, died in hospital, the Manhattan Beach Police Department said.

Ms Parker was among four department employees who were attending the Route 91 Harvest Festival while off-duty. Another suffered minor injuries.

Victim Rachael Parker was a police records technician for California Police
AP

"She was employed with the Manhattan Beach Police Department for 10 years and will be greatly missed," the department said in a statement.

Sandy Casey, a middle school special education teacher living in Redondo Beach, California, was killed in Sunday night's attack, the school district and a relative said.

Sandy Casey was shot dead at the concert (Facebook)

"This is unbelievably tragic and sad," Mike Matthews, superintendent of the Manhattan Beach School District, wrote in a Monday morning letter to the district. "This loss is impacting many of our staff members deeply."

Ms Casey was at the Las Vegas concert with her fiance and a friend, who were not injured.

Adrian Murfitt, 35, a fisherman, was shot in the neck
AP

Commercial fisherman Adrian Murfitt, 35, of Anchorage, Alaska, was also among the slain, a family member said.

His sister, Shannon Gothard, said the family heard from one of Mr Murfitt's friends who was with him when he died, though they haven't received official confirmation about his death.

Asked if the family was holding out hope that he made it after all, she said, "No. No."

Student Quinton Robbins, 20, was also killed in the gun massacre

Ms Gothard described her brother as a man with a hearty laugh and a former competitive hockey player who still dabbled in the game.

Dorene Anderson was the second person from Anchorage, Alaska, confirmed dead, her husband's employer said.

Mrs Anderson's husband, John, works for the Alaska Housing Finance Corp. The chief executive of that organisation sent an email to employees on Monday informing them that Dorene had been killed in the shooting.

Mrs Anderson described herself on her Facebook page as a stay-at-home wife and mother whose outside interest was a passion for the Alaska Aces, a minor league hockey team that recently disbanded and was sold to the parent company of the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers.

A memorial fund has been set up for victim Angela Gomez (Gofundme)

Angela Gomez, a former high school cheerleader, also died in the shooting. A memorial fund has been set up in her name.

Cameron Robinson, from Utah, was among those killed. His boyfriend was also injured but is expected to survive.

Mother-of-three Neysa Tonks was killed (GoFundMe)

Mother-of-three Neysa Tonks, born in Utah but who live din Las Vegas, was also confirmed among the victims.

San Bernardino County official Dana Gardner was among the victims (Facebook)

Other victims include Dana Gardner, from San Bernadino, mother-of-one Rhonda Lerocque and John Phippen, whose son Travis was also shot in the arm.

Melissa Ramirez, 28, a graduate of California State University, Brennan Stewart, student Quinton Robbins and Jennifer Irvine, an attorney from San Diego, also died.

Country music fan John Phippen died at the scene

Bill Wolfe, the head coach of a student wrestling team, was reported to have died at the festival, although his wife Robyn survived.

Mother-of-two Jenny Parks, from California, has been confirmed dead, as have Jack Beaton, Eric Silva, Tom Day Jr and Victor Link.

Chris Roybal served in Afghanistan with the US navy (Facebook)

Chris Roybal, a navy veteran who had served in Afghanistan, also died in the shooting.

Another victim was named as Hannah Ahlers, 1 34-year-old mother-of-three from Murrietta, California.

Mother-of-three Hannah Ahlers was among the victims
Facebook

The gunman responsible for the attack was found dead in his room at the Mandalay bay hotel after armed police forced entry.

Shooting victim: Young lawyer Jennifer Irvine
Facebook

Kurt Von Tillow, 55, was killed in the shooting, but his wife and daughter managed to escape unharmed. His sister as hit by shrapnel but is being treated, while his niece underwent surgery for a unshout wound to her ankle.

His family described him as a "loving husband, father and grandfather".

Kurt Von Tillow, 55, was a 'loving husband, father and grandfather,' his grieving family said

Michael Anderon also died. His girlfriend Bianca Acosta posted a tribute on Facebook which said: "He was everything a woman could want and need in a man.

"He was our whole world. And now I simply don't know how to go on without him. Our worlds have changed completely."

Victim Michael Anderson with his girlfriend Bianca Acosta
Facebook

Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said investigators found 18 firearms, explosives and several thousand rounds of ammunition in the home of suspected shooter in Mesquite, Nevada.

His brother described the shooter as a multi-millionaire property developer who liked to gamble large amounts of money at the world-famous casinos in Las Vegas who had no known political or religious agenda.

Las Vegas Shooting - In pictures

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Eric Paddock told reporters his brother often received free rooms and meals from casinos, telling reporters: "He was a guy who had money.

"He went on cruises and gambled."

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