Remembering the Victims of the Las Vegas Mass Shooting, the Deadliest in Modern U.S. History

They came to the Las Vegas strip expecting a fun night to cap off a fun weekend: The Route 91 Harvest, an outdoor country music festival, was at the end of its third day and Jason Aldean was performing the closing set — and then bullets began slicing through the air.

Police said 64-year-old Stephen Paddock, of Mesquite, Nevada, opened fire Sunday night on the crowd of more than 22,000 from his 32nd-floor hotel room at the nearby Mandalay Bay casino, where he had been staying since Thursday.

On Monday afternoon, officials said that at least 59 people had been killed and 527 more were injured.

When authorities entered Paddock’s room, they found him dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. There is no connection between the shooting and international terrorism, according to the FBI.

Here are the victims of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S.history. This list will be updated as additional names, photos and identifying information are available.

Lisa Romero

Lisa Romero/Facebook

A high school secretary in Gallup, New Mexico, Romero was a “happy-go-lucky person,” her cousin Ashley told the Huffington Post.

“She loved her kids and husband. And for this to happen so senselessly. It’s a heartbreaking day for us all,” Ashley said.

Romero was beloved at Miyamura High School, Louise Leslie, whose 14-year-old great-granddaughter attended the school, told the Washington Post.

“She was always telling my granddaughter to stay out of trouble and get somewhere and do the right thing — she was a good friend of hers,” Leslie said, adding that on Monday at school “everyone was crying.”

Sonny Melton

Sonny Melton/Facebook

Sonny Melton, a 29-year-old registered nurse from Big Sandy, Tennessee, reportedly saved his wife’s life before he was killed.

“He grabbed me and started running when I felt him get shot in the back,” his wife, Dr. Heather Gulish Melton, told local radio station WYCB. “I want everyone to know what a kind-hearted, loving man he was, but at this point, I can barely breathe.”

Heather and Sonny worked together at Henry County Medical Center in Paris, Tennessee.

“At this point, I’m in complete disbelief and despair,” she said. “I don’t know what to say. … He saved my life and lost his.”

Jordan McIlldoon

Jordan McIldoon/Facebook

Jordan McIlldoon, a resident of British Columbia, Canada, died in the arms of a festival worker.

Heather Gooze, a bartender at the festival, was holding McIlldoon’s hand when his mother called. She picked up the phone and learned his name, and also learned that his girlfriend Amber, was also at the festival.

Gooze got in touch with Amber, who was heartbroken to hear that McIlldoon didn’t make it.

“No, that can’t be true,” Amber said. “He’s the love of my life.”

Charleston Hatfield

Charleston HatfieldFacebook

Charleston Hatfield was an off-duty police officer with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and a military veteran — as well as a dedicated youth football coach.

“He was a great guy,” friend Moe Tuinei-Fiaseu tells PEOPLE. “He was a great father, coach, friend and really loved his Henderson Cowboys boys,” adding he was “like a father” to his players.

In July he published a memoir called “Memoirs of A Public Service,” about his personal interactions being a police officer in Las Vegas.

Troy Rhett, a close friend of Hartfield’s, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he sent him a text message late Sunday night, “hoping he would text me back.”

“I figured he was probably busy helping others,” said Rhett. “I don’t know a better man than Charles. They say it’s always the good ones we lose early. There’s no truer statement than that with Charles.”

Rachael Parker

Rachael ParkerCourtesy Manhattan Beach Police Department

Rachael Parker, a civilian employee of the Manhattan Beach Police Department in California, attended the concert with some of her colleagues.

The 33-year-old was shot and taken to a local hospital, where she died from her injuries. One other member of her group was shot but survived, department spokesperson Officer Kristie Colombo tells PEOPLE.

Parker, a Police Records Technician, was with the department for 10 years.

“We’re just in shock,” Colombo says. “We all just feel like we’re in a daze, it’s heartbreaking and surreal that this happened. So many people in so many places across the U.S either know somebody that was there and witnessed this or was injured or lost their life. It’s tragic.”

Jenny Parks

Jenny ParksDr. Steven McCarthy

Jenny Parks, a mother of two, attended the concert with her husband, Bobby. Bobby was shot in the arm and survived, but Jenny was killed.

“They were high school sweethearts,” says Bobby’s uncle, Dr. Steven McCarthy. “When we met Jenny we all fall in love with her.”

Jenny, who just got her masters in education in May, was teaching elementary school in Lancaster, California, where she lived with her husband and two children. Their oldest, Bryce, had just started high school and Lea was in elementary school.

Says McCarthy, “They were the perfect family.”

John Phippen

Facebook

Leah Nagyivanyi tells PEOPLE her longtime friend John Phippen was killed Sunday night while dancing alongside his son, Travis, who is an EMT. Travis, who was also shot but is expected to recover, tried to revive his dad, but couldn’t.

“John was a great example of what a good man and a good person is,” Nagyivanyi says. “He was the last person who should have left this Earth. He was the kind of guy who always had your back and always made sure you had a beer in your hand.”

John leaves 6 children behind. “Now, he will be everyone’s angel,” Nagyivanyi says.

Adrian Murfitt

Courtesy Murfitt Family

Adrian Murfitt, 35, was a commercial fisherman born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, loved country music.

“He was a big country music fan and he would always walk around singing country songs and he had a beautiful voice,” his sister, Shannon Gothard says. “He decided to treat himself for a good [fishing] season with a trip to Las Vegas and the concert.”

A few weeks before the festival, Murfitt bought tickets for him and a friend, Brian MacKennon.

“His friends and family always came first. I mean, if he had 20 bucks, 10 of it was yours. He’s always like that. He goes so far out of his way to make other people happy,” MacKennon says.

According to MacKennon, Murfitt was shot in the neck and died in his arms. His family says they are still in shock but are thankful their loved one was with a friend.

“I’m going to miss him every day, every minute,” Gothard says. “I’m just glad he was there and had somebody there who loved him.”

Susan Smith

Susan Smith was well known and loved in her community.

The 53-year-old had worked for the Simi Valley Unified School District for 16 years and was a member of the PTA while her two children were in school, according to school officials.

The last three years, Smith was office manager of Visty Elementary School, where she was “the center of the school,” Jake Finch, district spokeswoman tells PEOPLE.

 “She was the one kids would go to when they’re sick, she’s helping to make sure all supplies are in place, all the schedules are set…there are so many parts to her job,” Finch says.

Her colleagues learned of her death early this morning, Finch says. Counselors were on hand to speak with both teachers and students, who made cards for her family and left flowers at her desk.

 “It was a very somber day,” Finch says. “No hugs were off limits today.”

Sandra Casey

When she wasn’t teaching at Manhattan Beach Middle School, Sandra Casey could be found was out with friends, traveling with her fiancé or playing on her local women’s soccer team.

“She was so positive,” teammate Jenny Williamson-Pagan tells PEOPLE. “She was in such a good place in her life.”

Casey was a special education teacher at the California middle school for nine years and hailed from Vermont, Williamson-Pagan says.

She lived with her fiancé in Redondo Beach and loved being outside whether it be hiking and going to the beach. The couple traveled often, most recently to Scotland, Williams-Pagan says. 

“[Casey] is loved by students and colleagues alike and will be remembered for her sense of humor, her passion for her work, her devotion to her students, and her commitment to continuing her own learning and to taking on whatever new projects came her way,” Manhattan Beach Unified School District Superintendent Michael Matthews said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.

Carrie Barnette

Carrie Barnette Facebook

Carrie Barnette was “beloved by her friends and colleagues” at Disneyland’s California Adventure in Anaheim, California, according to Walt Disney Company Chairman and CEO Bob Iger who sent a company-wide email informing cast members of Barnette’s death.

The 34-year-old, who was a native of Riverside, California, and a graduate of Pacifica High School in Garden Grove, California, worked at Flo’s V-8 Cafe in Cars Land.

“Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by the tragic events in Las Vegas – the victims of violence, the witnesses, and the friends and families mourning loved ones. We are especially heartbroken over the loss of one of our own to this unconscionable and senseless act. Carrie Barnette had been a member of the Disney California Adventure culinary team for ten years and was beloved by her friends and colleagues. Our thoughts are with her family, along with our support, during this incredibly difficult time,” Iger, 66, said in his statement to employees.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with Barnette’s funeral expenses.

“A loving sister daughter aunt and friend was taken away far too early during the Las Vegas massacre a family is never prepared for a tragedy like this,” the account description states.

Barnette’s cousin, Janice Chambers, spoke with The Arizona Republic, describing Carrie as the “life of the party.”

“[Carrie] was shot to the left side of her chest and a friend with her was there at her side when she passed,” said Chambers, who lovingly described Barnette as “always smiling, happy and upbeat.”

“We are in shock and devastated. She was a beautiful soul,” Chambers said. “She lived her life to the fullest, adored her family niece and new nephew. She was a beauty inside and out, loved life and making others smile. She was very adventurous, loved to travel. Heaven gained a beautiful angel.”

How to Help and Learn About Loved Ones

Friends and family are asked to report missing people believed to be connected to the shooting using the hotline 1-800-536-9488.

Anyone with photo or video evidence of the shooting is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.

The city of Las Vegas has established a Family Reunification Center to help connect relatives with the more than 500 people who were injured.

In addition, city officials urged those locally who wish to donate blood to visit one of two donation centers operated by United Blood Services, either at 6930 W. Charleston in Las Vegas or at 601 Whitney Ranch Drive in Henderson, Nevada.

A victims’ fund has been started on GoFundMe by Steve Sisolak the Clark County, Nevada, commission chair. Other groups providing relief include the local chapter of the American Red Cross and the National Compassion Fund.

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