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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees
Las Vegas Lost: Remembering The Victims. Aired 9-10p ET
Aired October 06, 2017 - 21:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: For the next uninterrupted hour there will be no breaking news about the man behind the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history, nothing about the weapons he used, the targets he chose, the tactics he employed or the motors he may have had. We're setting that aside deliberately to bring you stories that too often get lost in the moment to moment coverage, stories of the fallen, not the killer.
Now, as you know, we don't name the killers on this broadcast, we don't show you their pictures. We don't believe history should remember the name of those who took the lives of others. We hope history remembers the names of all those who lost their lives.
So for the next full hour, with no breaks in between, we'll be doing our best to make that happen starting right now.
The very first confirmed victim of the tragedy was Sonny Melton. His mom calls her son's smile infectious, his wife and best friend Heather remembers it well.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HEATHER MELTON, WIFE OF SONNY MELTON: His name was Sonny, but he literally was sunshine when he walked in the room and he smiled.
COOPER: Is that when you first noticed about him?
MELTON: Absolutely.
COOPER: It was?
MELTON: Yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Heather is a surgeon. Sonny, a nurse and they shared a calling, shared the O.R. because they didn't want to be apart.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MELTON: We wanted to be together. I mean, there was hardly -- I know we were newly weds, but we had been together for about five years, but I don't remember a time when we were walking when we weren't holding hands. We fell asleep holding hands.
It was, you know, my mom talked about one time he just walked by and he just had to touch my shoulder. We just wanted to be together.
(END VIDE CLIP)
COOPER: Together back home in Big Sandy, Tennessee, together in Las Vegas, together at the concert, together in the terror, together in the gunfire, the chaos. Together till the end. Sonny Melton, who lived to save lives, died saving Heather.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MELTON: I have no doubt in my mind he sacrificed his life for me, but I think he would do it for other people he didn't even know. I just feel that he is -- he always puts people above himself, other people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Heather says she can't imagine life without Sonny. Says she's not even sure how to try.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MELTON: I'm not really sure how you do that, because it's not something you learn in life. Like you don't just learn to start tying your shoes then yes, or riding a bike. You're never prepared for something like this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: No one teaches you how to mourn when the light of your life goes out. Sonny Melton was 29 years old.
Forty two year-old Jennifer Irvine was from San Diego where she practiced law. A friend tells us her hometown paper that she was a smart, friendly, bubbly woman who enjoyed life, brought joy to others. An online biography describes a rich life outside the office, snowboarding, practicing yoga, earning a black belt in Taekwondo, earning rock climbing and skydiving.
Before the violence erupted on Sunday night, a friend report that Jennifer was singing, dancing, holding hands with her friends at the concert. A colleague shared this image of her on Facebook with a caption "A tragic loss of a kind, generous and beautiful lady. She will be greatly missed." Jennifer Irvine being remembered in San Diego.
The arms of Neysa Tonks' son of Braxton and Kaden are bruised in morning. The ache of their loss so intense they pounded the walls.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRAXTON TONKS, SON OF NEYSA TONKS: My mind is racing and in many different ways, I -- there's so much I could say.
KADEN MANCZEK, SON OF NEYSA TONKS: Just best to describe it as an emotional roller coaster. There's just moments where you're so sad, you're so angry that it happened and -- but you're so happy for the life that she had and what amazing life she lived. There are just so many emotions to the point where I was numb.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Their younger brother also remembers that amazing life and his amazing mom.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GREYSON TONKS, SON OF NEYSA TONKS: She lived life like it was her last each day. And she didn't care what anyone else thinks.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She did it her way.
G. TONKS: Yes. If it wasn't her way, she'd go off and do it her way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Neysa did what she does did and lived how she did in Las Vegas where she wok for tech firm and raised her three sons and taught them says her mom the best lesson of all.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DEBBIE DAVIS, MOTHER OF NEYSA TONKS: If you ever said like I just hate that. She said don't be a hater. She said that all the time.
Don't be a hater. Even if you said you hated broccoli she'd go don't be a hater. Just a wonderful person with a huge life that we will not let be dim. We will not.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Neysa Tonks' mom who has so many reasons to be proud of her daughter.
Brennan Lee Steward once said that if country music ever disappeared he felt like he would too. That love of country music was evident in the songs he wrote, the music he played on a guitar.
[21:05:02] In a statement his family says he was the kind of guy who always put others before himself. Right up until the moment, his life was cut short. He shielded his girlfriend and helped others to safety. Las Vegas was his hometown and his family says he rarely missed a chance to go to the country music concert.
He was a fan of the Atlanta Braves, the 49ers, loved hunting, dirt bikes. Music was his passion. Brennan once described himself as an average blue jeans, worn up boots and plain t-shirt kind of guy.
Brennan was at the concert with his girlfriend and she told the "The "Washington Post"" that she'll remember Brennan as a light that came into her life when she need the one the most. She says when he asked her out, he says how about I just propose to you now and we can have an Elvis wedding. Brennan Stewart was 30 years old.
Rachel Parker was from Manhattan Beach. She worked for a local police department as a records technician. Being mourned by the colleague she worked with for the last 10 years and the community she served.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAPT. TIM HAGEMAN, MANHATTAN BEACH POLICE: Whenever I walked by she took the time to look my way, wave and smile and that wasn't just for me that was for everybody. She was that kind of person.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: He says no matter what kind of day Rachel was having she did her job flawlessly, a true professional and a truly nice person. The department's Facebook page pays tribute to her passion for working with older, adult, her love of dogs. She had two Mady and Easy, both she adopted.
The tribute includes this message, "Rachel, we love you, we miss you, our hearts are breaking." Rachel Parker was 33.
Bill Wolf Jr. was celebrating his 20th wedding anniversary, the country music festival and his wife Robyn at his side. Bill worked as a wrestling coach and a volunteer little league coach in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania for six years. The Police Department there confirmed his death in a Facebook post saying "It's with the most of broken hearts the families of Bill Wolf Jr. and his wife Robyn share that Bill has been confirmed to be among the deceased as a result of the mass attack in Las Vegas." Bill's little league board issued a statement saying, "We are deeply saddened by his loss both as a friend and as a part of our little league family. His leadership, enthusiasm care and determine for these children will be greatly missed and certainly never forgotten in this community."
A previous employer describes him as a person of all fun and a devoted Christian.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KELLIE PERRY, COACHED WITH BILL WOLF JR.: It's definitely going to be a loss for everybody, you know, the kids, you know, that he coached, they're going to have to deal with it. You know, you think your mom and dad are just gone away and then this happens. I just think of my own son who is 12, for him to have to go through something like that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Bill Wolf Jr. leaves behind his wife and two sons.
Lisa Romero-Muniz was from Gallup, New Mexico. Where she served as discipline secretary at a local high school and where colleagues have more memories.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE HYATT, GALLUP-STANLEY COUNTRY SCHOOLS: She was not only an employee of our school district but was an incredible loving and sincere friend, mentor, advocate for our students in many of the schools in which she worked in. As a colleague she was outgoing, kind and considerate of all those she worked with. And we will miss all of these great attributes that she brought and shared with our students, with our staff and parents in our community.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Lisa's son Anthony says his mom wore her heart on her sleeve and would give you her last dime no questions asked and had a smile that would brighten the darkest night. Lisa Romero-Muniz, we remember her tonight.
Derrick "Bo" Taylor lived in Oxnard, California. According to the "The "Washington Post"" he had been given tickets to the Route 91 Harvest Festival for his 56th birthday but he wasn't sure he'd make it to the concert. That's because Bo a state correctional officer from nearly three decades was overseeing a team of inmates helping battle a wildfire.
The post reports the fired burned nearly 1,000 acres before it was under control just in September 28th, just on time for Bo to make the trip to Vegas. And then Tour (ph) Star newspaper spoke with Bo's direct supervisor called him an outstanding officer. He also credited Bo for attention to detail and hard work.
The post also reports that Bo was a father of two grown sons who say he was strict with them growing up but it softened once he became a grandfather of five. Bo and his companion Denise Cohen took this photo together in Vegas. Tragically Denise was also killed.
One of her two sons say we can see by this last photo of her that she was indeed happy and with a person who loved her. The same son told the local new paper, he feels sorry for all the people in the world who never got a chance to meet her. Denise had two grand kids.
She enjoyed volunteering at the hospitality committee at her church helping with baby and bridal showers and other big events. She lived with a roommate in Carpinteria, California, who says Denise recently devoted her life to God. The roommate also shared these memories.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEANA ORSUA., ROOMMATE OF DENISE COHEN: She was more than just a friend to me. She was truly like a sister or a family member. She was a very active, social person.
She just touched so many peoples' lives. She was a super positive, genuine, kind hearted individual.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: She also said Denise was thrilled to be going to the country music festival and had been planning the trip for three months. She added this message for her dear friend.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[21:10:01] ORSUA: Denise, we love you so much and I know you're in heaven right now and you're singing a country song and dancing and smiling at all of us. And I'll never forget you and I wish you are here and I love you so much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Denise Cohen was 58 years old.
Quinton Robbins was from Henderson, Nevada. He graduated from basic high school in 2015, coached his little brother's flight (ph) football team. The two brothers just gone to a dodger's game together.
On Facebook his aunt wrote that he had a contagious laugh and smile, a sweet soul. His hometown newspaper said Quinton liked the T.V. show the office, liked basketball and golf, vanilla ice cream, orange juice. He was a Mormon and a friend said he spent his Sundays with his family.
Well Bailey Schweitzer she graduated from Centennial High School in Bechtel, California. She stayed close to home, close to family and close to friends.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AMIE CAMPBELL, CO-WORKER OF BAILEY SCHWEITZER: She's the light that makes everything better and you just -- there's no bad day with Bailey around.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Bailey worked in the family business, but she dreamed of working with kids.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATELYNN CLEVELAND, FRIEND OF BAILEY SCHWEITZER: She really wanted to be a kindergarten teacher or even to be a delivering nurse. She had a passion for kids.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Bailey was in Las Vegas with her mom, her best friend.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAMPBELL: They were inseparable. She would come pick her up from work and they would go to lunch together. They would just go do anything together.
That relationship was like no other. I have a daughter myself, and I just hope that my -- our relationship could be the same.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Bailey Schweitzer was loved by her friends who said she made their world a better place. She was cherished by a family, treasured by a community, missed by so many. She was just 20 years old. Cameron Robinson took his last breath in his boyfriend's arms. He'd been shot in the neck.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOBBY EARDLEY, BOYFRIEND OF CAMERON: I just want to make sure that he knew that he wasn't alone in those moments and I held him and talked to him the whole time. And I know he wasn't the only victim and I know that so many other people are going through exactly what I'm going through. And my heart goes out to every single one of them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: His partner Bobby Eardley held Cameron until the two were able to get on to a pickup truck bound for the nearest hospital.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EARDLEY: So we were all just loaded into the back of the truck and there was Cameron was unconscious and another gentleman that was unconscious. And there was -- a few other people in the back of the truck as well, and two gentlemen did CPR on both of those men the whole entire time to the hospital. And it was just so incredible to see that drive and that determination and just the will to help an --
COOPER: Strangers, complete strangers.
EARDLEY: Complete strangers and I didn't get their name and I didn't think know their face. I just feel awful that I can't meet them and thank them for everything that they did.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Cameron worked for the city of Las Vegas, he loved to being could, he run marathons, he love travel. His Go Fund Me page describes him as caring, giving loving man who had some amazing dance moves.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Is there anything else you want people to know about him?
EARDLEY: I just think with the example that he was, I want everybody to know that no matter what you're going through or any hardship or anything, he was proof that you can overcome it and not only overcome it, but be so much better than what he even thought. Like he had just such a drive and determination to always better his life and he did such an amazing job of that. What he grew up with and stuff that he dealt with.
COOPER: He was living the life finally that he wanted to be living.
EARDLEY: Absolutely. And he lived it to the fullest. And it was never enough, he wanted more, and he deserved more.
(END VIDEO CLIP) COOPER: Cameron Robinson was just 28 years old.
Susan Smith was the principal's right hand at Vista Elementary School in Simi Valley near the Los Angeles. Mom two grown kids and a rock in the office.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAKE FINCH, SIMI VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SPOKESWOMAN: We were devastated. Susan has been with us a long time. She was wonderful.
Very well loved and really good at her job. Great with the kids, great with the staff. And it's just hard.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Hard, colleagues say, hard parents agree because Susan Smith was more than just staff, more than a manager. She was family.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HANHEY, VISTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENT: And I've been there a lot last year in the summer. And -- seriously always smiling, just so kind, so patient.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Parents and staff a like paying tribute to Susan for touching lives, for making a difference, for doing so many little big things and doing them so well. Susan Smith was 53.
Jack Beaton of Bakersfield, California, he was at the concert with his wife Lori and some of their friends. "People Magazine" reports that Jack and Lori was celebrating their 23rd anniversary. Early Monday morning Jack's son posted a picture of his dad on Twitter asking for prayers, saying his father jumped in front of my mom and got shot. I love you, dad, he wrote. Later Jack son posted on Facebook lost my best friend, love you so much more than you could ever imagine.
[21:15:04] The "Los Angeles Times" reports that Jack loved going to country music festivals with his wife and that he died protecting her. His wife Lori's father said as the bullets flew all around them Jack laid on top of her. And they told each other, "I love you" and then he got hit. Lori told her husband she would see him in heaven. Jack Beaton was just 54 years old.
Sandra Casey was a Special Ed teacher at Manhattan Beach Middle School near Los Angeles. She was in Las Vegas with her fiance Christopher who also worked at the school. A profile on the "Washington Post" says they bonded over country music. She died in his arms Sunday night.
Monday morning, he posted this on his Facebook page. "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 and that's where I feel you smiling down upon all of us. I love you, baby girl. Love you to pieces.
Back at the school where they met, the reaction, well, you know, it was heartbreak.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SUPT. MIKE MATTHEWS, MANHATTAN BEACH MIDDLE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT: We lost a person today who will not be replaced. She's in our hearts forever.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Sandra had taught at the school for the past nine years. Colleagues and students alike remember her sense of humor, her devotion to the kids, the commitment that she had to learning new things and to making a difference, which she did, they say, to made a big difference to her students, to their families and to the community. Sandra Casey.
This National Guards man from Las Vegas was also among the victims, Sergeant first class Charleston Hartfield. He was also an officer with the Las Vegas Police Department. He was also an author. He wrote a book called "Memoirs of a Public Servant." The Nevada National Guard said that Charleston lived to serve the public and protect his family, calling him (INAUDIBLE) of a citizen soldier. Charleston was about 6'4. His nickname in the guard was the "Gentle Giant."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
1ST SGT. ROBERT JESTER, NEVADA NATIONAL GUARD: He was not only 6'4"ish, but he was packed with some muscle, intimidating to a lot of people until he started talking to you. He wanted to breakthrough your interpersonal barriers, not through your face. To get to know you, what made you take, what motivated you. And so there are just particular, a lot of people picture people in the military as a bunch of robust, they just do what they're told. He took an avenue of wanting to motivate people to do the right thing instead of just telling them. So that's why we called him a "Gentle Giant."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Charleston was also a coach in Henderson Cowboys Youth Football League. The team posted this on Facebook saying, "Coach Hartfield touches many lives both on and off the field. He was a great man who we all lost too early."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
1ST SGT. PAK CASTILLO, NEVADA NATIONAL GUARD: You don't know really how hard it hits until, you know, the dust settles and it was -- yes, it's absolutely difficult. You know, someone has, you know, the whole world of potential in front of them and taken away that easy when they've been put in danger as in law enforcement and in uniform. And then going to something like a concert is what ends up being the way they take him. (END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Charleston Hartfield was just 34.
Jenny Parks taught kindergarten in Lancaster, California. She was in Las Vegas with her husband Bobby visiting family. They shared a love for the L.A. Dodgers, named their first dog after the team. In fact, they both loved country music. Both were wounded. Only he survived. His uncle Steven remembers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVEN MCCARTHY, FAMILY MEMBER OF JENNY PARKS: I cannot think of any better words to describe her than saying she was dearly a precious angel that had been gifted to us. When Bobby first brought her home, I remember how the entire family just adored her immediately. She was smart. She was beautiful. She was intelligent, giving, loving, never heard her say a bad word about anyone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Steven told the "Washington Post" that Jenny was absolutely the kind of girl that every mother wants for her son to bring home. He struggles, he says, to even say that she's gone.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MACCARTHY: I can't even put it into words. Four years ago, I lost my spouse and Bobby held me in his arms and said I can't even imagine what you're going through. I can't imagine what I would do if anything happens to Jenny. And four years later he's living this. He's only 40 years old. This shouldn't have happened to them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Kurt von Tillow was at the concert with his wife and other family members. Another relative says he was loved by be everybody, the life of the party, that he and his wife are each other's breath and life. They had just taken their two grandsons to Disneyland, described as all around great guy, wonderful father, and husband. He owned his own truck driving business.
Kurt von Tillow was also an avid golfer. There's a memorial for him at the country club he belonged to in Cameron Park, California. Where friends said he was the most patriotic guy they knew.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He lived a good life and he's a good man.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: And his golf buddies say he'll always be remembered for his smile, his laugh, his tremendous friendship. Kurt von Tilllow was 55 years old. [21:20:00] Angie Gomez was a graduate of Southern California's Riverside Poly High School where she is being remembered for her love of the stage. She was starting to be a nurse and natural caregiver, says her friend, Veronika, who remembers the future that she saw -- a future that's now on the past.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VERONIKA MALDONADO, FRIEND OF ANGIE GOMEZ: She had a boyfriend of four years, who loved her so, so much. Their relationship is just something straight out of a movie, you know, and we would always joke around that they would be the first one of us to get married. And just, you know, I see her, you know, in 10 years just typical white picket family, living her best life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Angie worked in children's theater. She sung in a choir, she loved country music.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MALDONADO: I know that she had the time of her life this weekend and just knowing that her last weekend was spent doing what -- something she loved, listening to country music and being with the love of her life is -- I mean, I'm OK with that rather than something else.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: A friend finding light and love even in terrible loss. Angie's last gift to Veronika. Angie Gomez.
Adrian Murfitt was a 35-year-old commercial fisherman from Anchorage, Alaska, big fan of country music. His friends called him "Murf". His mom told CNN that he was a jolly young man and caring. That everyone on his friends was his best friend. She said their family had just been humbled by the outpouring of love from the many, many people whose lives he touched.
Adrian surprised one of those friends, Brian MacKinnon with the tickets to the Route 91 Harvest Festival.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRIAN MACKINNON, FRIEND OF ADRIAN MURFITT: He looked forward to it. I mean, he bought me -- I even told him no, I couldn't go. I went to the bathroom and came back and he showed me his phone and he is like, I bought you your tickets and everything. You're going.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: They were having a great time in the festival enjoying the music until the shots started. Adrian was hit, Brian hunkered down next to him as he lay dying, pleading with him not to go even there's more shots rang out. He still clutches the hat that Adrian was wearing that night and plans to give it to Adrian's mom. Another close friend, Sean Alexander remembers Adrian this way.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEAN ALEXANDER, FRIEND OF ADRIAN MURFITT: And he brought everyone pure joy and just intoxifying laughter and just -- the type of guy that would take the shirt off your back. He'd see a car broke down and he would go rush and get his tools and just go help them. Just he loved to get his hands dirty and just put a smile on someone's face. That's not something you see in every person.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Another friend back in Anchorage, Harry Leffler remembers him as just a good dude.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HARRY LEFFLER, FRIEND OF ADRIAN MURFITT: He just doesn't deserve to die. I guess, he would always make you smile. He always told you he loved you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Adrian Murfitt will be missed by so many.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRISCILLA CHAMPAGNE, MOTHER OF RHONDA LEROCQUE: She was beautiful person. We all loved her and it's like now she was a loved woman. She set the bar real high. She was perfect in every sense of the word.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Rhonda LeRocque's mom remembers the daughter who she says simply emanated love.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHAMPAGNE: Rhonda touched everybody she knew, loved Rhonda. I don't think you could find one person that would have a bad thing to say about Rhonda. She was a beautiful, loving, kind, sweet daughter, beautiful woman.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: According to reports Rhonda was a Jehovah Witness. She met her husband on a mission trip. They had a daughter Alia. She's six. Her cousin Craig says they loved to travel especially to Hawaii. They hoped to move there some day.
Her sister Karina is crushed, "My heart is broken," she wrote on Facebook, "I'm numb. I feel paralyzed. This doesn't seem real. All I can do is turn to God's word for comfort, just as she would want me to. May she rest now until her name is called and she is awakened in paradise." Rhonda LeRocque.
Jordan McIldoon was visiting Las Vegas from Maple Ridge, British Columbia. According to his Facebook profile he was a mechanic at a construction company. He's being remembered as a compassionate guy who "always looked out for his Nana." He died holding the hand of a stranger.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HEATHER GOOZE, SURVIVOR LAS VEGAS MASS SHOOTING: I just sat with him, but I would like to think that if it was me, that somebody wouldn't have let me sit there alone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Heather watched Jordan take his last breath and then spent the next four hours watching over him. She managed to first getting contact with his long time girlfriend, Amber.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOOZE: She broke down and she said, you know, he's the love of my life. This can't be happening.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Then Heather spoke to Jordan's mom about the life her son led.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOOZE: She started telling me about him, you know, that he's covered in tattoos and that when he was younger they called him libby (ph) or lobby because he was lumpy (ph) when he was young. And that he was just a good, nice, fun, you know, country, who just -- he loved his girlfriend and he always had great family and great friends.
[21:25:04] COOPER: Stacee Etcheber was enjoying the country music show with her husband Vinnie, when bullets started to fly. She comes to the show from San Francisco where Vinnie works as a police officer.
Vinnie, told her to run when the shots began. He stayed behind to try to help wounded concertgoers. But he never saw his wife alive again. The San Francisco Police Officers Association confirmed Stacee's death in a statement saying, "Stacee was a wonderful, caring wife, mother, and daughter. She'll be terribly missed."
Stacee's 10-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter wanted answers after learning of their mom's death, of course, answers they may be too young to understand.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AL ETCHEBER, BROTHER-IN-LAW OF STACEE ETCHEBER: There was a question, didn't know how to answer it. And the question was why? Why did he shoot mommy, you know? And we didn't have an answer, you know. Why, why mom? Why was she the one that was shot and why was he doing the shooting?
So, you know, I don't know. Maybe one day we can explain that to them. But maybe they do understand it, but I just -- it was hard.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Her family described her to reporters as tough, a real cow girl, a devoted soccer mom.
Christopher Roybal was 28 years old, a navy veteran who served in Afghanistan, saw some of the fiercest fighting while deployed and yet, it was back on U.S. soil at this country music festival, where he lost his life.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RYAN CHIAVERINI, FORMER BROTHER-IN-LAW OF CHRISTOPHER ROYBAL: He was so proud to defend this country. And he was involved in a lot of heavy fire fights in Afghanistan, and he worked -- tried to work through that PTSD when he got home. And he was doing well in his work. He was promoted. He recently moved to Colorado Springs to kind of try to, you know, get his life in order.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: His former brother-in-law told CNN that Chris went to the concert with his mom to celebrate his 29th birthday. He remembered their last moments together.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIAVERINI: The last time I saw him, he had a baseball hat on and then I said I really like that hat and the first thing he did was he took it off and he gave it to me. And I said no, no, no, I don't want to keep your hat. And he goes just keep it. I have more of them. And that's kind of the guy he was. He loved reciting movie quotes and comedies. And he loved being a part of the family.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Christopher's co-workers at the Crunch Fitness Gym in Colorado where he worked said he was also known for his big teddy bear smile and infectious laughter.
Christopher's former brother-in-law was also friends with another victim of the tragedy, Hannah Ahlers, she was just 34 years old. She was dancing with her husband Brian when show got shot in the head. She was a stay-at-home mom for her three kids, 14-year-old and 11- year-old, and the youngest, just 3 years old.
Her husband tells CNN she's an amazing mom, active helping their daughter's volleyball team. He said she was beautiful inside and out and never too good for anyone. Their friend Ryan remembered her this way.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) CHIAVERINI: She always had a smile and a hug for anyone who walked in the room. She couldn't hurt a fly. She was one of the kindest people I've ever met.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Hannah lived in Beaumont, California with her family for the last five years, but was from Redlands California originally.
John Phippen was at the concert with his son Travis, who was wounded when he stopped to help someone during the shooting. His dad John stayed with him, shielded a woman from a bullet and was killed himself. He and his son both are being hailed as heroes.
A neighbor and close friend described John as a man of integrity. Who always had your back, there was nothing he wouldn't do for you, didn't have to ask. His friend says once when they were camping together someone flipped a boat and John went to help. And that's just the kind of person he was. Another friend said that John always had a smile on his face.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THOMAS POLUCKI, FRIEND OF JOHN PHIPPEN: He was unflappable. Just this big guy's guy that you know how there's always that thing about celebrities like, or politicians, who would you want to hang out with? John was that guy that you would always want to hang out with. A tragic loss, this is a really great guy that unfortunately a lot of people are never going to get to know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: John Phippen was 56 years old.
Denise Salmon Burditus, she was 50 years old. She was married to her high school sweetheart, Tony. The couple lived in West Virginia. They had been married for 32 years. Just before the shooting began in Sunday, Denise posted a picture of her and Tony in front of the festival stage.
She's a mom of two, grandmother of four with another one on the way. Denise died in Tony's arms. I spoke to him earlier this week.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY BURDITUS, HUSBAND OF DENISE SALMON BURDITUS: Denise always had a smile on her face and Denise never met a stranger. She -- you could be at the grocery store line and she's start talking to you, at a concert with 20 to 30,000 people and she would be talking --
COOPER: She was making friends and that's what she get?
BURDITUS: Absolutely.
COOPER: Yes.
BURDITUS: Life of her surroundings.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Just last year, Denise decided to go back to school, started taking college classes as a full time student studying business.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BURDITUES: I can't say enough. I mean, her smile, and there wasn't a day that went by that I didn't -- if I was out of town or something, I'd get a selfie on her way to the gym or on her way to school. I would get a huge smile and if I didn't get it, I'd text her back and she'd send me one back with a smile. I'm going to miss her greatly and her family is going to miss her greatly. Her friends will miss her greatly. I just want the world to know who she was.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[21:30:04] COOPER: Tony told me that he wants the world to know that she was a great person.
Steve Berger, like others was at the concert with friends to celebrate his birthday, turned 44, just the day before the shooting. Steve was 6 foot 6, a former college basketball player. His dad told the "Washington Post" that he wonders if his height made him an easier target. Both parents talk our affiliate WTM Jane in Wisconsin.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DICK BERGER, FATHER OF STEVE BERGER: He was the best type of son you'd ever want to have.
MARY BERGER, MOTHER OF STEVE BERGER: He would help anybody. He was always -- he would walk into a room and light up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Steve was racing three kids. He works as a financial adviser in Minneapolis. His parents didn't find out he died until Tuesday.
(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)
D. BERGER: You've got to pinch yourself and say did this really happen?
M. BERGER: I just feel empty now. I didn't know. I got up this morning and I just felt numb all over. I mean, you always think your kids are going to bury you.
D. BERGER: Yes. That's the thing.
M. BERGER: Now we have to --
D. BERGER: And we have to bury our son.
(END VIDEOCLIP) COOPER: Lisa Patterson was at the concert with four friends. She lived in Los Angeles, a mom of three, active in church and she helped coach the softball team. Her husband Robert drove to Las Vegas from California with his son and eldest daughter on Monday morning after hearing about the shooting and had to return to break the news to their youngest daughter, who's just eight years old. Robert says no one cared more about people than his wife.
(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)
ROBERT PATTERSON, HUSBAND OF LISA PATTERSON: I was with her for over 30 years. I can't believe she's gone. I just told my wife how much -- how great she was to me and how she was the most beautiful thing and had the greatest smile and was such a warm, caring person. There was nobody that cared more about people and life more than my wife Lisa.
(END VIDEOCLIP)
COOPER: Lisa's eldest daughter says she's getting comfort from hearing her friends' fond memories of her mom.
(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)
AMBER PATTERSON, DAUGHTER OF LISA PATTERSON: I got to grow up with my mom and she was there for me through everything and it breaks my heart that my sister is not going to get the same. She was such an amazing person. She cared for so many people. She was so enthusiastic. She was literally the best mom and she was my best friend.
(END VIDEOCLIP)
COOPER: Sunday night at the festival Brian Fraser was most looking forward to his favorite singer's performance Jason Aldean. Just as his favorite song Dirt Road Anthem started he and his wife Stephanie, a big group of friends moved closer to the stage to try to get a better view. That's when the gunfire started. Stephanie was there when he was shot. She watched as her friend attempted to CPR and put him into a wheelbarrow to rush him to paramedics but there was nothing they could do.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHANIE FRASER, WIFE OF BRIAN FRASER: I knew I had to walk through that door and tell my two little ones that they were never going to see their dad again. And I didn't know how I was going to do that. But I did.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Brian was a father of four, including a 10-year-old.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRASER: And he told me this morning he said, but mommy daddy had -- we had so many plans. You know, he promised he was going to take me to LEGO land. He promised we were going to go to Universal Studios. We had a lot of plans mommy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Brian adopted Stephanie's son nick when they got married. He was 11 years old at the time. Just this July Brian became a minister so he could preside over Nick's wedding.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICK FRASER, SON OF STEPHANIE FRASER: I couldn't even use one word, but if I had to I'd have to say amazing, you know, stunning, too good for this world. He, you know, he was a guy that took care of everyone that he came in contact with, went above and beyond every single -- for every single person, whether he knew them or not.
(END VIDEOCLIP)
COOPER: The couple also have a four-year-old and a 17-year-old.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEVIN OSBORN, SON OF BRIAN FRASER: He would do anything to save my mom's life, that's for sure. Like you said, he stood up, took a bullet for her.
S. FRASER: And I got to see him on the ground, but I got to see him peaceful. I look back and I hoped that it wasn't true, but I -- he had a very peaceful look on his face and that's how I needed to remember my husband.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Brian Fraser was 39 years old.
Carrie Barnette was 34 years old, out to enjoy an evening of country music and fun with friends when she was shot and killed. Her father said the two were incredibly close and that he misses his daughter so much.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICK BARNETTE, FATHER OF CARRIE BARNETTE: She text me on Saturday and then on Sunday morning before the concert, "hey, dad, what's the score of the Dolphin game." She loved football. She went to a lot of car shows with me. We spent a lot of time together. So it's really hard.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Her parents also said that she loved hummingbirds because they reminded Carrie of her grandparents who recently passed away. Her neighbor described her as a bubbly woman. California resident Carrie worked at Disneyland for 10 years.
Disney CEO Robert Iger said in a statement that she was beloved by her friends and colleagues and that they were heartbroken over the loss. Victor Link, he was 55 years old when he died in Las Vegas, leaving behind his wife Lynn. The couple were long-time music lovers that gone into the concert together as they did so many times before.
[21:35:03] His sister told the "Washington Post" that Victor's love of music went back as far as she could remember, always buying records and CDs even when they were younger. She said he finally found someone who loved live music as much as he did in his wife Lynn. Victor's boss at the mortgage company where he worked described him as the most genuine stand up guy you'll ever meet.
He says that he brought a smile to everyone's face. Victor love to travel, like snowboarding, golfing, cooking, and wine tasting with family and friends. There's a funny bio in his company's website included a mock job title, "Tequila quality control tester."
Nicole Kimura was from Orange County, California. She was at the concert with six of her friends. One of the friends, Ryan Miller a church pastor wrote this on a GoFundMe page setup her family, "Nicole's heart was bigger than most human beings, her spirit was beautiful, her laugh was infectious, and she just had a way of making every time we gathered an awesome one." Miller added "she made you jealous of how much she loved life. And if you didn't know her, you missed out on a better life than the one you have."
Nicole worked for the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. Nicole was 38 years old.
Calla Medig traveled from Canada to Las Vegas for the country music festival where she lost her life. The 20-year-old was at the concert with her roommate when she was gunned down. Calla worked as ace waitress Max's Restaurant in west Edmonton for the last two years. The restaurant general manager confirmed her death saying she was super mature, light-hearted, grounded down to earth.
Manager Scott Collingwood said Calla wasn't married and that this was the third year she's gone to that festival. She left a big hole in our hearts here he said. Calla's long time friend told Lindsay told reporters that she was just an all around good person, she was a loyal friend, she's been through a lot in her life, she said she was in a very happy place. She was just a very fun person.
The royal Canadian legion and Jasper posted a Facebook message that Canadian flags have been lowered in r Calla's honor. The message read "Our flag has been lowered in memory of Calla Medig. A young beautiful lady was taken to soon from us. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family. RIP Calla."
Thomas Day Jr. was a fan Pittsburgh Steelers football team. But Tom is a bigger fan of his family. Tom's daughter Whitney told CNN he was our rock, he was our everything. Anyone he came across he put a smile on their face." And she added, all their friends called him Daddy Day because he treated everyone like one of his own and it was an honor to us all to be able to share our dad with the world."
Tom was an estimator to his father's construction company loved to go boating with his family on the Colorado River. A colleague says that Tom would spend time there enjoying his beer and as you'd expect he loved country music. He was at the festival with friends and family including his four adult kids.
His children thankfully were not hit by gunfire but Tom was killed at the concert. Another member of their group also died friends to Tom's daughter Austin Davis. Austin and Tom played on a softball team together.
Austin was a pipe fitter from riverside California. His girlfriend in nine years wrote on Facebook, "This man is the love of my life, my world, everything." She said also "I am numb. I will miss you so very much. I will love you to my dying day, baby."
A friend remembers Austin as guy with a contagious smile. You didn't have to ask anything in life, if he knew you he loved you. His mother wrote on Facebook, "The last text we received from Austin was him telling us "I kind of want to come home, I love home." His mom added "he's coming home not in a way that any parent would want him to. We wanted to bring him home in our arms."
Austin Davis was just 29.
Michelle Vo had just recently become enamored with country music. It was her first festival according to "Washington Post". She was there alone but made fast friends with another music fan sharing their love of golf. Michelle Vo worked at New York Life Insurance in their Pasadena office. Her sister Cathy says "there's no map to get through the grief. They're taking it slowly, remembering the light that surrounded her."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CATHY VO, SISTER OF MICHELLE VO: She was really truly beautiful inside and out and she had this bubbly, infectious personality and it's so magnetic. If you -- anyone who miss who has been lucky enough to meet her would know that she made it so easy and fun to be around her. She had that natural ability to make that. You and her presence, you just felt like the best thing. We just wanted to spend so much time with her and just be there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Michelle Vo was 32 years old.
Heather Alvarado loved traveling with her husband and three kids. She was married to a firefighter in Cedar City, Utah.
In a Facebook posting by her husband's fire department, Heather is describe as someone who always saw the good in others, spent her whole life serving others in her family and community. Went on to say she was happiest when she was together with her family, especially her children, and she would do anything for them." Officials in Cedar City say the whole town is grieving her loss.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SGT. JERRY WOMACK, CEDAR CITY POLICE: It's especially tough for us where we're a small community and, you know, we all work together. We train together. We see each other socially, at athletic events and things like that, so it makes it pretty tough.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[21:40:08] COOPER: Heather Alvarado was 35 years old.
Chris Hazencome was 44. He attended the festival with their friend. That friend Nicky Torres told us Chris was the nicest person she's ever known. She said he loved to help people and thought of others before himself. She said they also thought the first round of gunshots was fireworks, as many people there did, but after the second or third rounds, they realized it was bad. That's when she looked over and Chris on the ground, a gunshot to his head. His mom talked with that friend.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARYANN HAZENCOME, MOTHER OF CHRIS HAZENCOME: She said that they were there and that Chris had gotten shot and that he had covered her so she wouldn't -- he took the bullet that's the easiest way to put it. That's Chris. That's Chris 150%.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Like so many others, he was shot while enjoying his love of country music. Chris' mother also says that he was a sports junky.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAZENCOME: He liked the WWF. He watched that faithfully every Monday night even though its phony, but he watched it. Yes. And his Angel game and the Raiders and the Rams.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Chris worked at a Walmart store. Nicky Torres's husband told the "Washington Post" Chris didn't deserve his fate. He was kind and caring. He never held a grudge.
Tara Roe Smith was an educational assistant from Canada. She was the mom of two young kids and was at the concert with her husband. They reportedly got separated amidst the chaos.
A friend says that Tara was a loving mom who would brighten up her room. Nothing would bring her down. Another friend tells the CBC she was passionate about her work in education and her community and on her kids' sports teams.
Her aunt calls her a beautiful soul, a wonderful mom. Tara was also a model. Sofia model said in a statement that into the "Calgary Herald", "She was always a friendly face and had a caring spirit." A friend who volunteered with Tara for their children's lacrosse team told the "Herald" that she was a down to earth person, a thoughtful individual.
Another family friend said so many hearts were broken with the passing of Tara that it'll change the lives of thousands. A childhood friend of Tara said this about her to Canadian media.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She is a force that will be missed, but her absence will never go away, and for that we're truly sorry for her family and all of us, we're all sorry that they don't have her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Tara Roe was 34 years old.
Brett Schwanbeck was shot during the initial round of gunfire at the festival. He was a retired truck driver from Bullhead, Arizona. He was with his fiance. She says two gunshots hit him, one in the head, the other in a leg.
He died at a Las Vegas hospital on Tuesday afternoon. Brett leaves behind five siblings, three children, five grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews and cousins. His family describes him as having been funny, generous, kind, loving, and so full of joy.
One of his nieces says he loved his family, cherished lake trips, family gatherings, hunting, campings, spending time with his kids and grand kids. She added he was the kind of guy who would drive 500 miles if you needed him to help you. Brett Schwanbeck was 61 years old.
Melissa Ramirez was from California. She'd been looking forward the country music festival for months. The "Washington Post" reports she as was especially excited to see Jason Aldean and that she and her friends are driven three hours just to see him.
Her cousin says Melissa wasn't afraid to speak her mind. She was really kind and really silly, read funny. She said she talked to everyone and was a social butterfly, but she was honest and blunt, she would tell you how it is.
She liked to cook. She was the best cook in the family according to her cousin. She also enjoyed traveling, was a big fan of the Philadelphia Eagles because her older brother liked the team.
Melissa graduated from Cal State Bakersfield with a bachelor's degree in business administration. The school flew their flags in half staff in honor of her. Melissa Ramirez was just 26.
Erick Silva's stepsister describes him as a great son, brother, and uncle who was loved by so many people and loved helping people. Erick's uncle says he was working as a security guard at the concert. His stepsister says she is sure he died trying to protect the others there.
Erick's uncle also told the "Washington Post" that his nephew's goal in life was to help others. He buy hamburgers for homeless people and helped his mom with her bills. An event manager wrote on Facebook that Erick Silva started working with him a couple weeks before the festival. He said he loved being in security, doing all he could to keep people safe before his own life was taken. His mom told CNN that she knows in her heart he tried to help people.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translation): He gave his life without knowing who the people were, she says, and a lot of people will miss him. He was loved by many people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Eric Silva had just turned 21 this past August.
Dorene Anderson from Anchorage, Alaska was at the concert with her husband John and their daughters. She was big into hockey and such a huge fan of the old minor league hockey team in Anchorage called the Alaska Aces. And she was the treasurer of the team's fan club. And he called the cowbell crew.
Dorene's long time friend wrote on Facebook that, "She was a great friend, a wonderful mother who loved her family more than anything."
[21:45:04] Her husband said our family is dealing with a great loss. She was the most amazing wife, mother, and person this world ever had. We are so grateful and lucky for the time that we did have with her. Dorene will be remembered for her kindness, her smile and all the good she did for other people.
We remember Kelsey Meadows tonight. For the last five years she was a substitute teacher back in her hometown at Taft, California. The principal at Taft Union High School where Kelsey graduated and ended up working says, "She was smart, compassionate and kind." Principal also added Kelsey had a sweet spirit and a love for children.
A senior at the high school told the local newspaper, "Rest in Peace Ms. Meadows. Thank you for all the great time you gave me as well as other students." In 20120, Kelsey graduated from Fresno State University where they planned to flags at half staff in her honor on the day of her memorial service. Kelsey leaves behind a mother, a father, a brother and a sister-in-law along with an entire community that loved her. Kelsey Meadows was just 28.
Candice Bowers is being remembered as a super hero by her family. Waitress and single mom of three from Garden Grove California was in Las Vegas for a rare weekend get away with a friend. According to her affiliate at KLAS, she leaves behind a 20-year-old son, a 16-year-old daughter and a two-year-old niece she recent adopted. One of her aunts tells a local newspaper she never blinked when it came to starting over with a baby after raising two kids of her own. She was truly a beautiful person said the aunt.
Candice's family also tell she over came years of hardship. Recently her life turned a corner. She adored country music and they said it was a gift that she was able to spend her final moments doing what she loved to do. Candice Bowers was just 40.
Dana Gardener of Grand Terrace, California went to the music festival with her daughter Kayla who survived. Her son Ryan is expecting his first child this month according to a GoFundMe page set up by friends. Her brother-in-law wrote on Facebook, that he'd miss the silly conversations they'd have.
Dana worked at a San Bernardino County Clerk's Office for 26 years. Was known for her energy, her can-do attitude. Her boss told the San Bernardino that she was a dedicated public servant. After the shooting, Dana's sisters went to a facility in Las Vegas where people were donating blood to thank them. They said even though Dana didn't make it, there were so many others who could be helped. They this to say about her beloved sister.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AMBER HURTON, SISTER OF DANA GARDENER: She's a wonderful woman.
HOLLIE BROWN, SISTER OF DANA GARDENER: Most generous person I've ever met.
HURTSON: Grandmother, sister.
BROWN: Wonderful mother and grandmother. Just her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Dana Gardener was 52 years old.
Jordyn Rivera was a student at Cal State, San Bernardino. She was in her fourth year of the university's health care management program. A faculty member there said she'll be remembered and treasured for her warmth, her optimism and energy and kindness. She loved country music obviously. She traveled to Vegas with her mom for the concert according to "Washington Post". A friend of Jordyn's since they were young girls tell CNN that Jordyn was happiest playing softball, the softball diamond was her heaven.
She says Jordyn always made a point to make everyone feel special that the sparkle in her eye when she was with her family was blinding. Her mom was her right hand woman her friend said but she was also a daddy's girl. Jordyn Rivera was just 21 years old.
Carly Kreibaum was in Las Vegas with two friends just hours before the shooting. She posted this photo of all three of them smiling at Venetian Las Vegas, that's her on the right. Later that night Carly was hit by a bullet. According to our affiliate KTIV the married mom of two lived in Sutherland, Iowa.
A friend told the TV station that Carly worked at Walmart. Her Facebook page says she studied at Wayne State College in Nebraska. She was also an artist who once painted the windows of her friend's flower shop. The friend says she can't think of anyone who doesn't like Carly and added she didn't have an angry bone in her body. Carly's death is devastating in her small town. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's still kind of shocked. You don't expect that sort of thing in any town, much less, you know, a little town of 600 people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Carly Kreibaum was 33.
Christiana Duarte or Chrisy as she was known was at the concert with her brother's girlfriend, a close friend of her as well. According to her profile on the "Washington Post" the brother's girlfriend tried to shield Chrisy with her body and was shot in the face. Chrisy's brother's girlfriend survived but Chrisy's ruins were fatal. Along with her brother, Chrisy is remembered by her mom and dad and so many friends. She just graduated from the University of Arizona in May where she was a member of the Sigma Kappa Sorority. She worked for two sports teams in California, the Los Angeles Rams football team posted this tribute to Chrisy with a link to a GoFundMe page.
They say she helped out at training camp. It was part of the game day staff. And Chrisy just started working for the Los Angeles Kings hockey team as well. This week their seasonal open game, the players wore this heart sticker with Chrisy's initials on their helmets. Her family and friends were holding out hope that she might survive.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GRANT ADAMS, FRIEND OF CHRISTIANA DUARTE: I didn't believe it. She brought a smile to everyone's face. When you're looking for answers, and she was lost, you're looking at everything, any footage you can find, anything that that really shows, at least any glimpse of someone's face that you can say that was her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[21:50:08] COOPER: And a family friend had this powerful message, he said what Chrisy would have contributed to society would have been amazing. Christiana Duarte was just 22.
Austin Meyer was at the concert with his fiance celebrating his 24th birthday. He moved from Reno, California to Reno, Nevada. He was a student at a community college there, an automotive student in the transportation technologies program. Austin's sister, Veronica, told affiliate station KSPW that he dreams of opening his own auto repair shop after graduation and was excited to get married and start a family of his own. His fiance's father said statement through Community College, "He was a wonderful young man and my future son-in- law. He loved attending the automotive program at your school, praised it all the time. The loss and grief his family and mine feel at this time is beyond belief."
Austin loves sports especially basketball, big fan of the Boston Celtics. His sister says he was a joy to be around, always smiling, always making people laugh. Austin Meyer was just 24 years old. Laura Shipp went out to the Route 94 Harvest Festival with her son Cory who was most excited to see Jason Aldean perform. The two were separated in the shooting and Cory spent the next few days trying to locate her until he finally found out that she didn't make it. The Washington Post says the single mom moved to Las Vegas just to be closer to Cory who's a marine. They went to concerts together a lot especially country music concerts. Her brother Steve told her hometown newspaper she was his world and he was hers. He also said that Cory is broken at her loss. Laura was a big Dodgers fan. A friend told CNN she was smart as a whip and had a huge heart and made friends with everyone.
Rocio Guillen Rocha was at the music festival with her fiance. They were planing their wedding. Now her fiance has to plan the funeral. Rocio was a mom of four. Her oldest is 18, her youngest just six weeks old. Her children called her a super mom. Her 13-year-old son Christopher says that he loved hearing his mom cheer him on from the stands of his football games. His older brother Marcus says he'll now be there for his brother. Marcus also told us this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCUS GUILLEN, SON OF ROCIO GUILLEN ROCHA: She was such a hard worker, a fighter. Everything she did inspired us just to be a better person, you know. It's going to be hard without her. Every moment was great with her even if it was five minutes to three days or the whole month. Just, yes every moment with her was a great moment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Rocio was definitely a fighter. Her son Marcus also said she once had a blood clot on her spine and the doctor told her she'd never walk again. She ended up proving everyone wrong and even ran half marathons. According to reports, she was a manager at Santa Ana California restaurant. Her friend said that Rocio worked hard but never missed out on her children's lives. She was just 40 years old.
Patricia "Pati" Mestas loved her family, loved country music, loved to travel. Her cousin says she loved to laugh, loved to smile, a big smile that would light up her whole face, describes her as bubbly, energetic, honest, fun, loving, and says she was quote a very strong Christian true to her Lord and true to her friends. Pati had three children, eight grandchildren, one great grandchild, used to work as a convenience store Deli manager in Corona California.
Her friend and former boss told the "Washington Post" that she charmed her customers with creative sandwich combinations and homemade sauces. He says Pati was the life of the party, ball of fire, always up for a good time.
Her cousin says the family has a video of her at the music festival, her hands up, smiling, just enjoying the music. He says it was the best part of her life and he'll always remember the almost constant laughter whenever they were together. Pati Mestas was 67 years old.
Keri Lynn Galvan was a mother of three who worked at a steak house in Thousand Oaks, California. The GoFundMe page created for the family describes her as a devoted wife and mom. Her sister wrote that Keri's day started and ended with doing everything in her power to be a wonderful mom. Keri reportedly attended the concert as part of a weekend get away with her husband Justin. Justin is a former marine who served in Iraq. He performed CPR on his wife after she was shot. He said he did everything he could to save Keri's life but she died in his arms. The Washington Post says the couple met in high school and shortly after and were married in Jamaica. Keri's father-in-law says she was a great mom who so loved her kids ages two, four and 10. Keri Galvan was 31 years old.
Jessica Klymchuk was from Alberta, Canada. She was a big part of a small town, Valleyview, just two 2,000 people. She lives behind four beautiful kids and her fiance. According to her Facebook page she and her fiance Brent were engaged just this past April. Her friends in that small community, they held a vigil to remember her.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTINE MONIKOV, FRIEND: We just all want to come together and support each other and give the family and close friends strength at this time.
KRISTEN PAQUETTE, VALLEYVIEW RESIDENT: You're going to see a very large crowd of people here in evening because that's how much she was loved. She touched many people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Jessica worked at the St. Stephen School filling lots of roles including librarian and bus driver.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[21:55:04] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'll remember how she was always greeting us in the morning, really nicely when we got on the bus. And when we were down she would like cheer us up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Jessica Klymchuk was 34 years old.
Andrea Castilla was celebrating her 28th birthday at the Route 91 Harvest Festival. Her sister Athena, boyfriend Derek Miller and friends were there. They spent the weekend snapping pictures. All had big smiles. Her sister Athena said she and her sister were holding hands watching Jason Aldean when the gunfire erupted and Andrea was shot in the head. Andrea's boyfriend, Derek was planning to propose this week according to her sister.
Instead, he and her sister carried her body off the field over a fence and placed her in the bed of a pickup truck on the way to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ADAM CATILLA, ANDREA'S BROTHER: She was a beautiful soul. There's no more, there's not much part of -- like she shouldn't have died that night.
SHANE ARMSTRONG, ANDREA'S BROTHER: They lost one of the most beautiful souls on this planet. Every single room that she walked into she lit up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Andrea was a make up artist at Sephora and loved helping cancer patients feel beautiful about themselves while going through treatment. Her sister said that passion was inspired by their mom's death from cancer. She also leaves behind her father who she was incredibly close to. In her Facebook page he wrote that he is still listening for her small voice saying dad I'm with you, I never left you.
Carrie Parsons lived in Seattle, Washington, grew up in Bainbridge Islands. Carrie was on a weekend girls' trip to the music festival when she was shot and killed. Country music was her favorite. Eric Church her favorite artist. Earlier in the weekend she posted a picture of the singer with the caption night made. Her best friend Lori Cooper is just devastated.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAURA COOPER, FRIEND OF CARRIE: She was just -- sorry -- one of a kind. She was a one in a million friend.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: She says Carrie was full of life and just got engaged Hawaii. She was a recruiter at a staffing agency in Seattle.
58 people. 58 lives lost. 58 people worth knowing. Their lives enriched us all just as their loss diminishes us all. The stories are theirs, the honor is ours. Thanks very much for watching, see you again soon.
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