Mass shooting victims mourned in Ohio, Texas
A man who died in the arms of his son in a mass shooting in Ohio was remembered Saturday as a loving family man who painted houses and loved to fish and cook.
Mourners gathered, too, in Texas, to remember loved ones at funerals. In El Paso, more than 100 people marched through the border city, denouncing racism and calling for stronger gun laws one week after 22 people were killed in a mass shooting that authorities say was carried out by a man targeting Mexicans.
Investigators say a shooter opened fire in an El Paso Walmart store on Aug. 3, targeting Mexicans and killing 22 people. Less than 24 hours later, another gunman killed nine people in a popular Dayton nightlife area.
The funeral for Derrick Fudge, 57, was among several being held Saturday for people killed in Dayton. Hundreds of mourners, including Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, attended Fudge’s funeral at St. John Missionary Baptist Church, the Dayton Daily News reported.
Fudge’s son, Dion Green, said his father spoke often of his willingness to die for him. Green previously told the Springfield News-Sun he believes his father protected him from being killed. Green told mourners his father was a great person who was always there to help when needed.
Burial services for 38-year-old Saeed Saleh were also held Saturday morning in Dayton, according to the Daily News. Saleh, who was from Eritrea and recently immigrated to the U.S., was remembered as a “humble and quiet person” by a spokesman for the family.
Dayton police have said officers fatally shot the lone gunman, 24-yearold Connor Betts, about 30 seconds into the rampage early last Sunday. They say his sister was among the nine victims. The motive remains unclear.
In El Paso, a requiem Mass was offered for 15-year-old Javier Amir Rodriguez, a high school sophomore and avid soccer player who was at the Walmart with his uncle when he was killed.
Burial was also scheduled for Jordan Anchondo, who died shielding her infant son from gunfire. Her 2-month-old son was treated for broken bones, but was orphaned after Jordan and her husband, Andre, were killed.
Chanting “gun reform now,” “El Paso strong” and “aquí estamos y no nos vamos” — Spanish for “here we are and we are not leaving” — the El Paso marchers included Hispanic, white and black people dressed in white to symbolize peace and carrying 22 white wooden crosses to represent the victims of the Walmart shooting.
The man charged with capital murder in that attack, Patrick Crusius, told investigators he targeted Mexicans at the store with an AK-47 rifle, an El Paso detective said in an arrest affidavit. Federal prosecutors have said they’re weighing hate-crime charges.
Jessica Coca Garcia, who was among those wounded in the shooting, spoke to those gathered at the League of United Latin American Citizens’ “March for a United America.”
“Racism is something I always wanted to think didn’t exist. Obviously, it does,” Coca Garcia said after rising from a wheelchair. Bandages covered gunshot wounds to her leg.
“I love you, El Paso,” she said, her voice cracking. “This is where I’m going to stay.”
Former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, attended and spoke to the crowd. O’Rourke, who is from El Paso, has blamed President Donald Trump’s rhetoric for spreading fear and hate, leading Trump to tweet that O’Rourke should “be quiet.”