Oregon college shooting This article is more than 8 years oldBehind the numbers: victims of Oregon community college shooting identified
This article is more than 8 years old- Lucero Alcaraz earned full-time scholarship and loved to draw, sister said
- Rebecka Carnes was aspiring dental hygienist who started classes on Monday
College students, a teacher and two emergency responders ranging in age from 18 to 67 were killed when a gunman opened fire on a writing class at Umpqua community college in Roseburg, Oregon, county officials announced on Friday.
The victims were identified as Lucero Alcaraz, 19; Quinn Glen Cooper, 18; Kim Saltmarsh Dietz, 59; Lucas Eibel, 18; Jason Dale Johnson, 33; Lawrence Levine, 67; Sarena Dawn Moore, 44; Treven Taylor Anspach, 20 and Rebecka Ann Carnes, 18.
None of the victims could have known that Thursday – just the fourth day of class – would be different, but it ended up being “the saddest day in the history of the college”, according to the interim leader of the college. Below is what we know about the victims.
Lucero Alcaraz, 19
A 2015 graduate of Roseburg high school, 19-year-old Alcaraz was named a UCC Scholar for the 2015-2016 academic year. UCC Scholars receive a full-time tuition scholarship for up to six consecutive terms.
Her family confirmed to ABC News that she had been killed in the shooting. Her 14-year-old sister, Eileen, told BuzzFeed News that Lucero was a great artist, loved to draw and was “the responsible one” of the six siblings.
Alcaraz received honors in college, and “would have been a great pediatric nurse”, her sister Maria Leticia said in a Facebook post. She said that she was “so proud” of Alcaraz, for her achievements, adding: “You were going to do great things love.”
Rebecka Ann Carnes, 18
Carnes, 18, was an aspiring dental hygienist, who started classes at Umpqua on Monday, according to the New York Times. Carnes worked at the Walmart Supercenter in Roseburg, according to a Walmart spokesman. She also played softball during high school.
Multiple people on Twitter spoke of her sunny disposition and positive outlook on life. On Facebook, her cousin wrote that she had the “biggest heart an amazing soul (sic)”.
“We are at a loss for words,” her father, who confirmed her death, told KATU.
Jeff Merkley, a Democratic US senator, paid tribute to Carnes, who was the great-granddaughter of a cousin.
“I cannot conceive of the brutality that has affected this community. This has touched my family directly. Rebecka graduated high school last spring and was beginning her community college education to explore her interest in pursuing a career in medical services. Rebecka’s beautiful spirit will be enormously missed.
“I was in Roseburg today to express solidarity with the community and to thank the first responders, civic leaders and medical personnel for their tremendous efforts under extremely stressful circumstances. I know that the hearts and prayers of all Oregonians are with all of the victims, their loved ones, and the entire Roseburg community.”
Quinn Glen Cooper, 18
In a statement, the Cooper family said their son was “funny, sweet, compassionate and such a wonderful loving person”. They said he loved to dance and voice act with his older brother, and was preparing to take the test to advance to a brown belt in karate next week.
“We send our condolences to all the families, who have been so tragically affected by this deranged gunman,” the statement said. “No one should ever have to feel the pain we are feeling.”
Jason Dale Johnson, 34
The 34-year-old had begun the semester in hopes of continuing his education after completing a six-month rehab program for drug abuse, Johnson’s mother Tonja Johnson Engel told NBC on Friday.
“He started Monday and he was so proud of what he had accomplished, and rightly so,” Johnson Engel said. “The other day he looked at me and hugged me and said, ‘Mom, how long have you been waiting for one of your kids to go to college?’ And I said, ‘Oh, about 20 years.’”
Tonja last saw her son when he kissed his mother before he left for class on Thursday morning, saying: “Love ya. I’ll see you this afternoon.”
A statement from Johnson’s family said he was “proud to be a Christian.”
“Jason’s mother said that Jason was proud of himself for enrolling in school, and so was his mom. They felt that Jason had finally found his path. His family says that he will be loved and missed.”
Lucas Eibel, 18
A statement from the Eibel family reads: “We have been trying to figure out how to tell everyone how amazing Lucas was, but that would take 18 years.”
Eibel, a graduate of Roseburg High School, was attending Umpqua on a Ford Family Foundation scholarship and was also a UCC Scholar. He was studying chemistry and loved FFA, volunteered at an animal shelter and played soccer.
Lawrence Levine
Levine was an assistant professor of English at Umpqua Community College. According to his LinkedIn profile, he graduated from the University of Oregon.
His Facebook page lists New York as his hometown. It also says that in the past he worked as a Fly Fishing Guide in Glide, Oregon and as a bartender at Wonder Bur Lounge & Cafe.
Levine lived alone in a rented cabin on the North Umpqua river and pursued diverse interests. Above all, he considered himself a writer. “He was the sweetest, most gentle, kind, thoughtful and creative person,” David Furman, a lifelong friend, told the Oregonian.
“My heart is broken He was intense and opinionated,” she said. “He loved Tom Waits, the blues and other types of music, going to concerts when he could or just listening to the radio. He also loved art and had strong opinions about what was good.” He wrote novels, none published, including Timber Town, a mystery set in the US north-west.
Not being published rankled Levine, said Joey Weiss, a close friend from Beverly Hills. “Writing was his passion,” Weiss said, adding that Levine looked the part, sporting a beard and pipe.
Kim Saltmarsh Dietz, 59
Dietz graduated from the Mission Viejo High School in California in 1974. She was 59 years old and worked at the Pyrenees Vineyard & Cellars as a “caretaker for many years along with her husband and current Vineyard Manager Eric Dietz”, according to a Facebook statement.
Carolyn Whitehorn, Dietz’s mother-in-law, told ABC that she was a student at the community college, along with her daughter who was not harmed.
Treven Anspach, 20
According to his Facebook page, Anspach worked at Roseburg Forest Products and was a 2014 graduate of Sutherlin high school. In his profile picture, Anspach is holding a fish; another shows him playing basketball.
His family paid tribute in a statement. “The Anspach family would like to thank everybody for their heartfelt thoughts and prayers during this most difficult time. Treven was one of the most positive young man always looking for the best in life. Treven was larger than life and brought out the best in those around him.”
Anspach played basketball for the Umpqua Riverhawks, the college’s basketball team.
The team’s coach, Daniel Leeworthy, said in a statement: “It is with great sadness and shock that Treven Anspach, a basketball player on our team, has passed away due to this shooting. We love him and will miss him greatly. All he wanted to do in life was to marry his high school sweetheart, be a firefighter like his dad, and to serve others. To me he was a friend and a coaches dream. He was a friend to everyone. Treven we will miss you deeply!”
Anspach was described as a quiet leader and one of the basketball team’s strongest players.
Shelton Jackson, a teammate, said Anspach was his mentor. “He always showed up first at practice and he showed me what it meant to be on the varsity team. He didn’t lead by being vocal, but by example.”
Sarena Dawn Moore, 44
Moore, a 44-year-old woman who lived in Myrtle Creek, graduated from high school in Reno, Nevada, according to her Facebook. She was a Seventh-day Adventist and had worked at the Oregon Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Previously she lived in Sacramento, Hanford, and Hayfork, California.
Several of her photos on Facebook were of animals, including dogs and horses.
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