San Bernardino shooting: Who were the 14 victims killed at Inland Regional Center?
The names of the 14 victims of the San Bernardino shooting have slowly been made public, a day after the deadliest mass shooting in the US since Sandy Hook. On 2 December, at least two attackers, identified as Syed Farook and his wife Tashfeen Malik, opened fire during a holiday party for the San Bernardino County's public health department. The attack left at least 14 people dead and 21 injured.
The names of all the victims were released shortly after 4pm PT (12am GMT) on 3 December. Further details will be added as more information on the victims comes to light.
Nicholas Thalasinos, 52, began the day no different to any other as he dropped his wife, Jennifer Thalasinos, off to work at the Colton Joint Unified School District. Jennifer told the Los Angeles Times that her husband helped her bring in classroom snacks before leaving.
"So I actually got an extra hug and a kiss before he left," she said. "So I'm just holding on to that." The 41-year-old said her husband was a good, chivalrous man with a large number of friends from church and Facebook. Jennifer told the newspaper that when she learned the shooting was at Inland Regional Center, where her husband was attending the annual employee party, she "pretty much knew he was gone."
Nicholas was a health inspector and a colleague of Farook at the San Bernardino County Health Department's environmental services division. "They got along," his wife said. "As far as I know, [Syed] got along with everybody. That's what's so shocking." Thalasinos had worked for the health department for 12 to 13 years, ABC7 reported.
The 52-year-old and his wife were both Messianic Jews who had met online and been together for14 years. Jennifer told the paper that her husband was very outspoken about Islamic terrorism and had conservative political beliefs. "I'm sure that he went down fighting and protecting people," she said.
A memorial GoFundMe page for Thalasinos created by friends has raised over $3,000 (£1,980) at time of publishing.
Michael Raymond Wetzel, 37, was a married father of six who lived in Lake Arrowhead, California. The children range in age from infant to mid-teens, a photo released by the Church of the Woods revealed.
On Wednesday, Wetzel's wife Renee posted a message on Facebook asking for prayers. "So many prayers needed. My husband was in the meeting where the shooting happened. I have not been able to get in touch with him. Please please pray that he is ok."
Wetzel, who graduated from Rim of the World High School in Twin Peaks, California in 1996, was a supervising environmental health specialist with the San Bernardino County. According to Yahoo News, a memorial YouCaring fund has been established for Wetzel's wife. At time of publishing the memorial fund had raised $114,882 (£75,854) of its $125,000 goal.
Larry 'Daniel' Kaufman, 42, was dropped off at his job running the coffee shop in building 3 at the Inland Regional Center, training developmentally disabled clients who worked there, by his boyfriend of nearly three years Ryan Reyes the morning of the shooting. Reyes told The Los Angeles Times that the couple traded texts and photos throughout the morning before Reyes received a final message from Kaufman at 10.37am.
Around 11.30am, the 32-year-old received a message from his sister asking him about Daniel and telling him to check the news. Reyes attempted in vain to get in contact with Kaufman. False information that Kaufman had been wounded reached Reyes and Kaufman's relatives, but the family waited 22 hours to receive confirmation.
After 24 hours, Reyes learned from the aunt who adopted Kaufman that he had died. Kaufman was described as a free spirit, who loved horror films and talking to everyone he met.
Robert Adams, 40, was a married father of 20-month-old Savannah. Adams grew up in the Inland empire and married his high school sweetheart, Summer, family friend Jenni Kosse told The Los Angeles Times. Adams, a resident of Yucaipa, was an environmental health specialist.
Bennetta Bet-Badal, 46, was an Iranian-American who arrived in the US following the Iranian Revolution when she was 18. The 46-year-old married mother of three was an environmental health specialist who was set to deliver a presentation to her coworkers on the day of the shooting.
A fundraising page set up in her honour said: "She loved her job, her community, and her country. Her greatest love, however, was for her husband, her children, and her large extended family." The Rialto resident was mother to a 10-year-old, 12-year-old and 15-year-old.
Shannon Johnson, 45, was an environmental health specialist for 10 years and resident of Los Angeles,. Johnson's LinkedIn profile says he graduated from California State University-San Bernardino with a degree in Health Science.
Damien Meins, 58 was an employee for the County of San Bernardino Environmental Health Department. Meins had worked for 28 years for Riverside County and had recently taken a position at the environmental health department.
Director of Riverside County Transportation & Land Management Agency, Juan Perez called Meins a "bright light" who had been "extinguished from our world in a most tragic way." Meins had worked as a physical education teacher at St Catherine's school in Riverside and had played Santa for the children. Perez added: "I will always remember Damian as a caring, jovial man with a warm smile and a hearty laugh." According to ABC7, Meins' wife was a local principal.
Isaac Amanios, 60, was a resident of Fontana, California. Family members referred to Amanios as "an amazing father, brother, an amazing everything." The Los Angeles Times reported that the married father of three was an employee for the county health department.
Harry Bowman, 46, resided in Upland, California. Bowman's relative, Bill Kraft, told The Los Angeles Times that he leaves behind two daughters, ages 11 and 15.
Sierra Clayborn, 27, lived in Moreno Valley, California. Clayborn was a UC Riverside graduate and an environmental health specialist for the county. Mary Hale, the manager of the complex where Clayborn lived, told The Los Angeles Times: "She was dedicated to her profession, and she loved the opportunities to meet different people," Hale said. According to Hale, Clayborn lived with her boyfriend.
Juan Espinoza, 50, was a resident of Highland, California. The married father of two worked as an inspector for the county health department, his daughter told The Los Angeles Times.
Yvette Velasco, 27, was a resident of Fontana, California. The Guardian reported Velasco worked for the San Bernardino county environmental health department.
Aurora Godoy, 26, resided in San Jacinto, California.
Tin Nguyen, 31, lived in Santa Ana, California.
© Copyright IBTimes 2024. All rights reserved.