Mothers, fathers & so much more than victims
Portraits emerge of the 10 lives stolen by Boulder gunman
A former New York photo editor, a local actress and three grocery-store workers were among the victims killed when a gunman opened fire on a supermarket in Boulder, Colo., on Monday afternoon.
The 10 people slain in the massacre at a King Soopers supermarket were identified Tuesday by medical examiners who “worked overnight” to confirm names and notify families, Colorado cops said.
In addition to hero cop Eric Talley, who was killed responding to the shooting, the victims were identified as: Denny Stong, 20; Neven Stanisic, 23; Rikki Olds, 25; Tralona Bartkowiak, 49; Suzanne Fountain, 59; Teri Leiker, 51; Kevin Mahoney, 61; Lynn Murray, 62; and Jody Waters, 65.
Mahoney’s daughter shared heartwrenching photos to Twitter on Tuesday showing her dad walking her down the aisle at her wedding over the summer.
“I am heartbroken to announce that my Dad, my hero, Kevin Mahoney, was killed in the King Soopers shooting in my hometown of Boulder, CO,” Erika Mahoney wrote in the post.
“My dad represents all things Love. I’m so thankful he could walk me down the aisle last summer.”
Erika, news director at the public-radio station KAZU in Northern California, added that she is now pregnant — with a daughter her father will never know.
“I know he wants me to be strong for his granddaughter,” she said.
Lynn Murray was a former magazine photo editor who had worked in New York for publications including Glamour, Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire before moving to Colorado, her daughter told The Denver Post.
“She was the most beautiful person I ever met,” said daughter Olivia Mackenzie.
After retiring, Murray took on some gig work — and was working as an Instacart shopper in the King Soopers supermarket at the time, her daughter added.
She wasn’t the only victim working at the time of the massacre.
Rikki Olds was an assistant front-end manager at the supermarket and had been at work throughout the pandemic.
“She loved her job,” her grandmother, Jeanette Olds, told The Post. “To be truthful with you, that’s probably what killed her.”
Olds’ job kept her from her grandma for most of the past year since she had been working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I couldn’t see her,” Jeanette said. “We had only phone contact because of my age. She was afraid to come and visit.”
But then the grandmother received her second shot of a COVID-19 vaccine a couple weeks ago, allowing her to see Rikki, who came over again recently.
“The last time I had talked to her was Saturday. It was my birthday,” Jeanette said.
“She was working and said she would come by this week but wanted to wish me a happy birthday and that she loved me.
“It’s like a dream, not even a dream — more like a nightmare,” Jeanette said of her granddaughter’s murder.
Leiker was a 30-year employee at King Soopers — and got the position through a special-needs work program, a friend said.
She thoroughly enjoyed her job and was dating a colleague, said friend Lexi Knutson.
“Her boyfriend and her had been good friends and began dating in the fall of 2019,” Knutson told Reuters. “He was working yesterday, too. He is alive.”
The youngest victim, Denny Stong, was another employee, but was training to be a pilot, according to a tribute on social media from a close friend’s mom.
“My heart breaks. My son’s best friend, Denny Stong, was killed at the Boulder King Soopers yesterday. He was 21 and was training to become a pilot,” Laura Cole Spicer wrote.
On his Facebook profile, Stong indicated that he had been a frontline worker during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I can’t stay home. I am a grocery-store
worker,” read a frame around his profile picture, referring to job responsibilities amid coronavirus lockdowns.
Stong’s friend, James Noland, offered a memorial on a GoFundMe page.
“He simply showed up to work, and was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Noland wrote. “He did nothing wrong and deserved this in no way at all. He made no choice that led to this.’’
Suzanne Fountain was a local actress and also a house manager at eTown, a livemusic venue in Boulder.
“She was a brilliant actress and the kindest, most giving soul,” fellow thespian Kevin Hart wrote on Facebook, adding that the two had worked together on a production called “The Woolgatherer.”
The venue said in a statement: “Suzanne was a bright light to all she met, and we were proud to have her represent eTown in our community as she welcomed people into our space hundreds and hundreds of times.”
Tralona Bartkowiak owned a Boulder clothing store called Umba Love that collaborated with local artists and designers.
“She was the kindest and sweetest lady you ever did know,” wrote friend Edica Pacha. “All she wanted to do was help and share beauty with others. I am heartbroken for her family. Love you Lonna.. you were such a light.’’
Jody Waters, a mom of two daughters, described herself as a hiker, creative and an entrepreneur on her Instagram page, which was filled with beaming family photos.
Stanisic had immigrated to the United States from Bosnia when he was a toddler, a family friend told The Denver Post. He was at the shooting scene likely because he had been headed to fix a coffee machine at the Starbucks inside the store, the Rev. Radovan Petrovic said.
“He was a very good, shy, hardworking boy, and one of those kiddos who listened to his parents the best,” the reverend said.
Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold told reporters at a press conference Tuesday morning, “Our hearts go out to all the victims killed during the senseless act of violence.
“We are committed with state, local and federal authorities for a thorough investigation and will bring justice to each of these families.
“The Boulder County Coroner’s Office worked overnight to identify all of the victims and notify the next of kin, which I’m extremely grateful for,” Herold said. “The last victim was removed from the scene at 1:30 a.m. today.
“By 2:02 a.m. all the victims have been identified. By 3:59 a.m., the families of the victims have been notified.”
A 21-year-old Syrian-born man, Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, has been arrested for the rampage.
Authorities have yet to release a motive.