These are the victims of the Florida school shooting
(CNN)A football coach. An athletic director. And young, fresh-faced students.
They are among the 17 people killed by a gunman Wednesday at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said Thursday that all families who lost loved ones in the shooting have been notified.
Here are the victims:
Alyssa Alhadeff, 14
Alyssa, 14, was a student at Stoneman Douglas and a soccer player for Parkland Travel Soccer.
Lori
Alhadeff, Alyssa's mother, told HLN she dropped her daughter off at
school Wednesday and said "I love you." When Lori Alhadeff heard about
the shooting, she hustled to school, but was too late.
"I
knew at that point she was gone. I felt it in my heart," she said.
"Alyssa was a beautiful, smart, talented, successful, awesome, amazing
soccer player. You'll be greatly missed, Alyssa. We love you so much.
You'll always, always be in our hearts."
"Alyssa Alhadeff was a loved and well respected member of our club and community," Parkland Travel Soccer said on Facebook. "Alyssa will be greatly missed."
Alyssa also attended Camp Coleman, a Jewish sleepaway summer camp.
"On
behalf of the entire Coleman community, we offer heartfelt condolences
and prayers for comfort to Alyssa's family and friends. May Alyssa's
memory forever be for a blessing," the camp said on Facebook.
Scott Beigel, 35
Beigel, a geography teacher, was killed as he tried to usher students back into his classroom when the shooting broke out.
Kelsey
Friend, one of Beigel's students, told CNN in an emotional interview
that he was shot outside the classroom door and that he saved her life.
"Mr.
Beigel was my hero and he still will forever be my hero. I will never
forget the actions that he took for me and for fellow students in the
classroom," Friend said. "I am alive today because of him."
She said the teacher was an amazing person and his memory would live on with her.
"If
I could see him right now ... I'd give him a huge teddy bear to say
thank you. But, unfortunately, I can't do that," she said.
Beigel, 35, was also a counselor at Camp Starlight in Pennsylvania, which called him a "friend and hero" on Facebook.
Martin Duque Anguiano, 14
Miguel Duque mourned the loss of his younger brother, Martin, and set up a Go Fund Me page to help pay for funeral expenses.
"He
was a very funny kid, outgoing, and sometimes really quiet. He was
sweet and caring and loved by all his family. Most of all he was my baby
brother," Miguel said on the page.
"My
family and I have no words to describe the event that's has happened on
this date, all my prayers to the lost ones. My family and I will
appreciate anything that we can get helped with. R.I.P Martin Duque."
Nicholas Dworet, 17
Dworet,
a 17-year-old senior, was killed in the shooting, the University of
Indianapolis confirmed. Dworet was recruited for the university swim
team and would have been an incoming freshman this fall.
"Nick's
death is a reminder that we are connected to the larger world, and when
tragedy hits in places around the world, it oftentimes affects us at
home," said Robert L. Manuel, University of Indianapolis president.
"Today,
and in the coming days, I hope you will hold Nick, his family, all of
the victims, as well as the Parkland community and first responders in
your prayers."
Aaron Feis, 37
Feis, an assistant football coach, was killed when he threw himself in front
of students to protect them from oncoming bullets, according to
football program spokeswoman Denis Lehtio. Feis, 37, suffered a gunshot
wound and died after he was rushed into surgery, Lehtio said.
"He died the same way he lived -- he put himself second," she said. "He was a very kind soul, a very nice man. He died a hero."
Colton
Haab, a 17-year-old junior who had a close relationship with Feis, told
CNN he saw the coach running toward the sounds of gunshots.
"That's Coach Feis. He wants to make sure everybody is safe before himself," Haab said.
"(He)
made sure everyone else's needs were met before his own. He was a hard
worker. He worked after school, on the weekends, mowing lawns, just
helping as many people as possible," Haab added.
Chad Lyons, a student and football player, said Feis was there for him when Lyons was going through leukemia treatments.
"He
guided me through them. He would send me prayers. He would send me
Bible scripts and just stuff to cheer up my day. Funny memes," Lyons
said.
"He was just an amazing
person to be led on and taught by, and I'm thankful enough to even be in
his presence, just going through high school."
Jaime Guttenberg, 14
Jaime, 14, was among the victims, according to a Facebook post by her father, Fred.
"My
heart is broken. Yesterday, Jennifer Bloom Guttenberg and I lost our
baby girl to a violent shooting at her school. We lost our daughter and
my son Jesse Guttenberg lost his sister.
"I
am broken as I write this trying to figure out how my family gets
through this. We appreciate all of the calls and messages and we
apologize for not reacting to everyone individually," he added. "Hugs to
all and hold your children tight."
Skidmore
College, where Fred Guttenberg attended, released a statement saying
their hearts go out to Jaime's parents and others affected by the
tragedy.
"There really are no
words to lessen the suffering that the families of victims are feeling
at this moment, but perhaps knowing that we stand with them can provide
some small measure of solace," the college said.
Chris Hixon, 49
His widow, Debra, was telling CNN that he was "probably the best man that I ... " when she couldn't go on.
She had just described Chris Hixon -- who was the school's athletic director -- as an awesome husband, father and American.
"Every one of those students he thought of as his own kid," she said earlier.
Hixon,
49 would give students rides or lunch money and, if they needed it,
open up his home to them. "He just loved being around kids and giving
back to the community," Debra Hixon said.
A Naval reservist, Chris Hixon deployed to Iraq in 2007.
"He loved being an American and serving his country and he instilled that in our kids," she said.
Hixon was also the school's wrestling coach, something that was his passion.
Luke Hoyer, 15
The killing shocked Luke's close-knit family.
Grandparents
Eddie and Janice Stroud in Simpsonville, South Carolina, learned about
the news of the shooting from TV reports, they told CNN affiliate WYFF in Greenville.
"The
day went by and we didn't hear anything about Luke. We kept hoping they
would find him wandering around in shock," Janice Stroud told the
station.
"By 7 o'clock, I said, 'I
don't like this. This is not good,' " her husband said, according to
WYFF. "Finally, (police) called us at 1 a.m. and said Luke was among the
students that had been killed."
Janice
Stroud said, "He was a good kid. He ... never got in trouble. He was
the last of my daughter's children who still lived at home."
Cousin
Grant Cox called Luke "an amazing individual. Always happy, always
smiling. His smile was contagious, and so was his laugh.
Another
relative, Mary Beth Stroud-Gibbs, posted on Facebook that the family is
"very close" and it is "devastated by this senseless shooting."
"Our Luke was a precious child."
Cara Loughran, 14
Cara danced at the Drake School of Irish Dance in South Florida.
"Cara
was a beautiful soul and always had a smile on her face," the dance
studio said in a statement. "We are heartbroken as we send our love and
support to her family during this horrible time."
Danny Vogel, a neighbor, posted condolences on Facebook.
"It
is with a heavy heart and much regret that I write these words. Our
next-door neighbor's daughter was one of the lives taken (too) soon by a
senseless act of violence at Stoneman Douglas High School.
"RIP Cara, and fly with the angels. You will be greatly missed, and we will always love you and celebrate your beautiful life."
Gina Montalto, 14
Gina, 14, was named as a victim of the shooting by the Broward County sheriff.
Joaquin Oliver, 17
Joaquin, 17, was named as a victim of the shooting by the Broward County sheriff.
Alaina Petty, 14
Alaina Petty
Petty's family said she was vibrant and determined. She had volunteered after Hurricane Irma hit Florida in September.
"Alaina loved to serve," the statement from her family said.
She was also a part of the "Helping Hands" program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
"While
we will not have the opportunity to watch her grow up and become the
amazing woman we know she would become, we are keeping an eternal
perspective," her family said.
Alaina, 14, was also a member of the junior ROTC at her school, a leadership program taught by retired Army personnel.
Meadow Pollack, 18
Pollack,
18, had been accepted at Lynn University in Boca Raton. Spokeswoman
Jamie D'Aria said: "Meadow was a lovely young woman, who was full of
energy. We were very much looking forward to having her join our
community in the fall. "
Helena Ramsay, 17
Helena, 17, was named as a victim of the shooting by the Broward County sheriff.
Alex Schachter, 14
Alex
participated in the school marching band and orchestra, playing
baritone in the former and trombone in the latter, The Sun-Sentinel
reported.
"I felt he really had a
bright future on the trombone," Alexander Kaminsky, director of bands at
the Parkland high school, told the paper.
A Go Fund Me page was set up by Alex's family as a scholarship fund.
"In
an effort to continue his memory, this scholarship is being created to
help other students experience the joys of music as well as fund
increased security at schools. Please help keep Alex's spirit alive,"
the page said. "The money raised will be sent to the Stoneman Douglas
Marching Eagles."
Carmen Schentrup, 16
Carmen was a National Merit Scholar semifinalist.
"Marjory
Stoneman Douglas had 10 students qualify as semifinalists for 2018,
which is the second year in a row 10 students have qualified," the Eagle
Eye student blog said.
Carmen was mourned in the community and on social media.
"Rest In Peace Carmen Schentrup," one tweet said. "You family is forever in my thoughts and prayers. I'm so sorry."
Peter Wang, 15
Peter had been a member of the ROTC program, and his parents owned a restaurant in West Palm Beach, The Sun-Sentinel reported.
Kelsey
Friend, who shared a culinary class with Peter, said she "started
screaming and crying" when she found about her friend's death by looking
at images on Google of those who had died.
"I am wearing my culinary shirt right now, to remember him," she told Alisyn Camerota on CNN's "New Day" on Friday.
Kelsey said Peter had been excited about the Chinese New Year, which fell on Friday.
"Me and my family celebrated it for him, eating Chinese," she said.
Kelsey said the two of them were close.
"It's
hard to not have him in the hallways anymore because me and him used to
laugh with each other. He used to make me smile. And now he's gone."
Jesse
Pan, a real estate agent in Parkland, posted images of the boy on
Facebook, including a couple of him wearing his ROTC uniform.
"Rest in Peace Peter!!!" he said.
