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These Are the Names and Faces of All Those Killed in School Shootings This Year

Photo credit: Courtesy/Betsy Farrell
Photo credit: Courtesy/Betsy Farrell

From Woman's Day

According to statistics from the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety, there have been 42 shooting incidents at schools in the United States in 2018. Not all of them were fatal, and not all of them involved students, but all of them involved guns at or around the campus of a school in the U.S. Those shootings claimed the lives of over 35 victims – this is who they were.

Najee Ali Baker, 21

Died January 20

Baker died after being shot at an event venue on the campus of Winston-Salem State University. "Mr. Baker was a promising young man. It is truly a tragedy that his life was cut short in an act of unnecessary and senseless violence," WSSU Chancellor Elwood Robinson said in a statement, according to the Winston-Salem Journal. "It is times like these that remind us of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing one another."

Bailey Holt, 15

Died January 25

Holt died when a teenager allegedly fired a gun into a crowded area of Marshall County High School in Benton, Kentucky. "Bailey's parents want the world to know one detail in her final moments," her aunt, Tracy Tubbs, said in a statement, according to Heartland News. "On Jan. 23 at 8:10 a.m. when the shots began, Bailey made a call to her mom, Secret. Of course, we assumed she intended to tell her mother the catastrophic events unfolding. Unfortunately, it was too late. For she taken from this earth. By the time her mother answered the phone, Bailey was gone."

Preston Cope, 15

Died January 25

Cope, also 15, died in the same attack as Holt. "His dad speaks about one of the greatest opportunities that Preston has was to be able to play at Busch Stadium whenever the high school team got to play there last year," Jackie Reid, principal of Sharp Elementary who worked with his mother, told Heartland News. "He said that is a memory they're going to hang on to forever."

Ralph Kennedy, 32

Died January 31

Photo credit: ABC 6 Action news
Photo credit: ABC 6 Action news

According to NBC New York, Kennedy, a father of eight with two more on the way, was shot twice in the right leg during a basketball game between Lincoln High School and Audenried Charter School in Philadelphia. During a brawl in the parking lot, at least one person fired around eight shots. "He didn't do anything," his mother, Sirod Geraldine Bordley, told ABC 6. "He was with his friend seeing the game."

Aaron Feis, 37

Died February 14

The football program at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School tweeted that assistant coach Aaron Feis died while selflessly shielding students from gunfire. "He died a hero and he will forever be in our hearts and memories," the tweet read.

Chris Hixon, 49

Died February 14

Chris Hixon was the athletic director at Stoneman Douglas, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. In 2007, he was deployed to Iraq as a member of the Navy Reserve. "Chris is probably the nicest guy I have ever met. He would give you the shirt off his back. He does so much," Coral Springs High School athletic director Dan Jacob told the newspaper.

Nicholas Dworet, 17

Died February 14

Nicholas Dworet, a student at Stoneman Douglas, had committed to enrolling at the University of Indianapolis in the fall to join its swim team, the Indianapolis Star reported. His friends and family had been commending him for turning his academic performance around in order to get a scholarship at the university.

Gina Montalto, 14

Died February 14

The 14-year-old freshman was on the school's winter guard team; her team was about to perform in Tampa this weekend. "My heart is broken into pieces. I will forever remember you my sweet angel," Manuel Miranda, one of her instructors from middle school, told the Miami Herald. "She was the sweetest soul ever. She was kind, caring always smiling and wanting to help."

Scott Beigel, 35

Died February 14

Beigel was a geography teacher at Stoneman Douglas, the Herald reports. Kelsey Friend, one of his students, told Local 10 that he was killed while trying to lock the classroom door. "Unfortunately, I had to watch him lying there lifeless in the doorway," she said, noting he was her favorite teacher. "I will truly, in every moment of my life, miss him."

Jamie Guttenberg, 14

Died February 14

Guttenberg was a freshman at Stoneman Douglas, according to Local 10. Her parents had posted information about her while she was still missing, and took the post down after they learned she had died. Jamie's brother, Jesse, made it home safely.

Alyssa Alhadeff, 14

Died February 14

Alhadeff was a student at Stoneman Douglas and an avid soccer player. One of her relatives confirmed to CNN that she died in the shooting. Her soccer club paid tribute to her in a Facebook post. "To Alyssa's friends, honor Alyssa by doing something fabulous in your life," they wrote. "Don't ever give up and inspire for greatness. Live for Alyssa! Be her voice and breathe for her. Alyssa loved you all forever!"

Joaquin Oliver, 17

Died February 14

Joaquin Oliver was known by his nickname "Guac," short for "guacamole," because many couldn't pronounce his first name, according to the Associated Press. Born in Venezuela, he had just become a U.S. citizen last year, USA Today reports. "He's never going to graduate high school like I get to graduate," his friend, Tyra Hemats, told the newspaper. "He's literally stuck there forever."

Meadow Pollack, 18

Died February 14

Meadow Pollack's parents called her phone repeatedly only to hear it ring, as they kept an anxious vigil outside the hospital. But on Thursday, her father, Andrew Pollack, confirmed that his daughter was among the dead, the Palm Beach Post reported. Eighteen-year-old Pollack, a senior, had planned to attend Lynn University, her father said.

Martin Duque Anguiano, 14

Died February 14

According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Duque was a student at Stoneman Douglas. "He was like, one of the nicest people I knew," his best friend Isaac Briones told the Associated Press. "He was so caring."

Luke Hoyer, 15

Died February 14

According to People, Hoyer was a freshman at Stoneman Douglas, who was known as being a fun-loving kid with a positive attitude. "He was always smiling and very laid back," his aunt, Joan Cox, told the magazine. "He never caused any trouble. He was just a good boy and had a great life."

Alex Schachter, 14

Died February 14

According to the New York Times, Schacter 14, played the trombone in the school marching band. His father, Max, told the newspaper that his son was "a sweetheart of a kid" who "just wanted to do well and make his parents happy."

Peter Wang, 15

Died February 14

The Brooklyn-born freshman was an active member of the school's ROTC program, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports. "He is so brave. He is the person who is genuinely kind to everyone. He doesn't care about popularity," his cousin, Lin Chen, told the newspaper. "He always liked to cheer people up. He is like the big brother everyone wished they had."

Alaina Petty, 14

Died February 14

The Stoneman Douglas school shooting victim was a member of the Mormon church, and the community mourned her on Thursday, according to the Deseret News. She, along with Wang, was part of the ROTC program, and also took great pride in her volunteer work.

Helena Ramsey, 17

Died February 14

Helena Ramsey was one of the victims of the Stoneman Douglas school shooting, according to the Broward County Sheriff's Office. According to The Daily Beast, a relative wrote on Facebook that she was "a smart, kind hearted, and thoughtful person. She was deeply loved and loved others even more so."

Cara Loughran, 14

Died February 14

Loughran was one of the victims of the school shooting at Stoneman Douglas. "RIP Cara, and fly with the angels. You will be greatly missed, and we will always love you and celebrate your beautiful life," her neighbor wrote on Facebook, according to the Modesto Bee.

Carmen Schentrup, 16

Died February 14

Schentrup was killed in the Stoneman Douglas school shooting. In September, Schentrup was named one of 53 National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalists in the county and a classmate tweeted "we all praised for her intelligence."

Kaleel Clarke, 20

Died February 24

Kaleel Clarke, a sports lover, was killed on Savannah State University’s campus in a shooting authorities are still investigating. "I pray for everybody here in Savannah that has lost a child because now I'm on that list," said Kenneth Frazier, Clarke’s father told WTOC. "And for my son to die like that yesterday...it didn't make any sense."

Diva Jeenen Davis, 47

Died March 2

Diva Davis was killed on the campus of Central Michigan University in what police are calling a family-related domestic dispute. She was an American Airlines flight attendant and loved flying and traveling. She was also a staunch advocate for breast cancer awareness, as reported in her obituary.

James Eric Davis Sr., 48

Died March 2

James Davis Sr. was was killed on the campus of Central Michigan University in what police are calling a family-related domestic dispute. Davis was a part-time police officer for 20 years and assisted the department on special occasions, and according to CNN, he was a pillar of the Chicago suburb of Bellwood.

Courtlin Arrington, 17

Died March 7

Courtlin Arrington was a bright student at Huffman High School, and had been accepted into college and had aspirations to be a nurse, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said. CNN reports that the shooting on her school's campus appeared to be accidental.

Jaelynn Willey, 16

Died March 22

Jaelynn Willey was one of two shot at Great Mills High School, and was allegedly targeted due to her relationship with the shooter that had recently ended, Fox 5 reports. The 16-year-old student was the second oldest of nine children and loved swimming so much that she joined the swim team.

Jared Black, 17

Died May 18

Santa Fe High School student Jared Black had just turned 17, and was due to have a birthday party a day after a shooting killed him and nine others. His stepfather, Travis Stanich, told the Houston Chronicle that Black was a great kid who loved people and was very creative.

Shana Fisher, 16

Died May 18

Shana Fisher had recently celebrated her 16th birthday, her aunt Ericha Fisher Farris revealed in a Facebook post. According to CBS News, Fisher’s mother, Sadie Rodriguez, believes her daughter was intentionally targeted by the shooter during the Santa Fe High School shooting because Fisher rejected his advances.

Christian "Riley" Garcia,15

Died May 18

Christian Garcia loved the outdoors and loved to help others, and according to CBS News, he died a hero. Garcia held a door shut in the art hallway in Santa Fe High School, giving other students time to escape.

Aaron Kyle McLeod, 15

Died May 18

Aaron Kyle McLeod was a freshman at Santa Fe who loved to crack jokes. "He was never one to be a sad or down person; he always had to joke or laugh about things," Kali Reeves, a friend of McLeod’s told the Houston Chronicle. "He was just outgoing and super sweet. He definitely didn't deserve this."

Glenda “Ann” Perkins, age unconfirmed

Died May 18

Glenda Perkins had been a substitute teacher at Santa Fe High School, where her grandchildren also attended, for years, and was a favorite with students. Former student Emily Evans told the Houston Chronicle that Perkins “was always patient with everyone in the classroom.”

Angelique Ramirez, 15

Died May 18

Angelique Ramirez was a 15-year-old student at Santa Fe High School, and she was known for her fire-red hair. The Associated Press reports that on Sunday Pastor Brad Drake of Dayspring Church described Ramirez as “a sweet young lady’ who “had a style all of her own.”

Sabika Sheikh, 17

Died May 18

Photo credit: AP
Photo credit: AP

Sabika Sheikh was a Pakistani exchange student at Santa Fe High School, and the Pakistani Embassy in Washington confirmed that she died in the shooting on Friday. Her father told the Associated Press that Sheikh was a hardworking and accomplished student who aspired to work in civil service. Her funeral was held on Sunday.

Chris Stone, 17

Died May 18

Chris Stone was a junior in high school who loved parasailing, jet skiing, ziplining, and hiking in the mountains, according to CNN. His sister, Angelica Stone, told CBS News that Chris hid in a closet with with other students, and held the door closed to keep them safe. Another sister, Mercedez Stone, said that Stone was "definitely the life of the party, and one of the most understanding, open-minded kids I know.”

Cynthia Tisdale, 63

Died May 18

Photo credit: AP
Photo credit: AP

Cynthia Tisdale was a substitute teacher at Santa Fe High School. Her son, Recie Tisdale, told the Washington Post, “She started substitute teaching because she loved to help children. She didn’t have to do it. She did it because she loved it.”

Kimberly Vaughan, age unconfirmed

Died May 18

Kimberly Vaughan, a student at Santa Fe High School, was a Girl Scout and an art lover. Her mother confirmed Vaughan’s death on Facebook, writing, “We need to fight for our kids. #fightforkim #oneof10”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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