A British-born mother was one of the victims of the Oregon massacre
A BRITISH-born mother was one of the victims of Thursday’s US college massacre, it was revealed yesterday.
London born Kim Dietz was attending the college as a mature student
It also emerged that killer Chris Harper-Mercer had shot himself.
Victim Kim Dietz, 59, was attending Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, as a mature student alongside her daughter Shannon, 18, who survived the attack unharmed.
Married Mrs Dietz was born in Edmonton, north London, but had emigrated as a child. Her aunt Patricia Fountain described her as “so kind” and tributes on Facebook spoke of “one of the nicest ladies” who was a “kind soul”.
Chris Harper-Mercer's mother had a stockpile of weapons because she feared tighter gun control
Members of the community held a candle light vigil to remember the victims
Very energetic, very kind soul
She had worked as a caretaker at a local vineyard. Boss Robert Stryk said Mrs Dietz had been a “very energetic, very kind soul”.
He added: “Really, the tragedy here is that this is a woman who was just trying to better herself.”
The other victims of America’s 994th mass shooting in three years, were Lucero Alcaraz, 19, Quinn Glen Cooper, 18, Lucas Eibel, 18, teacher Lawrence Levine, 67, Jason Dale Johnson, 33, Rebecka Ann Carnes, 18, Sarena Dawn Moore, 44, and Treven Taylor Anspach, 20.
Harper-Mercer, 26, had been enrolled in the class where he opened fire. It is claimed he had once attended a school for behavioural problems.
It has also emerged that the killer’s mother Laurel Harper had an arsenal as she feared tighter gun laws.
Shelly Steele, who employed Harper, said she would talk about often taking her son shooting on ranges.
She said: “If you know your son has mental health issues, do you encourage a fascination with guns?”