Victims of school shooting remembered by community

PARKLAND, Fla. (FOX 13) - We now know the names of all 17 confirmed dead in Wednesday's school massacre.

Among the dead are three educators and high school students ranging from freshmen to seniors.

They were swimmers, musicians, dancers, academics, best friends, coaches, athletes, veterans, heroes, brothers, sisters, daughters, sons, cousins, and – most of all – innocents.

Here are a few details we have learned about the victims 24 hours after their untimely deaths.

GALLERY: Thousands attend candlelight vigil for school shooting victims

Martin Duque, 14, freshman

Isaac Briones, 15, says Martin Duque was one of his best friends. Briones called him "one of the nicest people I knew." Briones said he last saw Martin the day of the shooting during first period when they were "just playing around, talking about jokes and stuff."

On Thursday, Briones was outside the school with others holding a group of white balloons for the victims. On Instagram, Miguel Duque wrote that words can't describe the pain of losing his brother. He added: "I love brother Martin you'll be missed buddy. I know you're in a better place. Duques forever man I love you junior!!! R.I.P Martin Duque!"

Jaime Guttenberg, 14, freshman

Ninth grader Jaime Guttenberg loved to dance and hoped to become an occupational therapist and mother. Her brother, Jesse is a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. He survived Wednesday’s shooting.

In a written statement to The Associated Press, Jamie’s aunt, Abbie Youkilis said the 14-year-old "was a pretty girl with the world's best smile and her soul was sensitive and compassionate." Youkilis called for gun-control legislation, saying Jaime's parents were "the world's most loving and over-protective parents but they could not protect Jaime from the sickness that has gripped our country."

Guttenberg leaves her parents, Fred and Jennifer Guttenberg, and brother. Her father said in a Facebook post that he is "trying to figure out how my family gets through this."

Cara Loughran, 14

Cara’s aunt, Lindsay Fontana called her an excellent student who loved the beach and her cousins. In a Facebook post, she implored people "to DO SOMETHING. This should not have happened to our niece Cara and it cannot happen to other people's families."

Gina Montalto, 14, freshman

Gina participated in the winter color guard squad at the school. Friends and relatives posted tributes on Facebook. Her mother, Jennifer Montalto, called her "a smart, loving, caring, and strong girl who brightened any room she entered." One of Montalto's color guard instructors from middle school, Manuel Miranda, told the Miami Herald that Montalto was "the sweetest soul ever."

Alaina Petty, 14

The Mormon church said Thursday two of its members were involved in Wednesday’s shooting. One was Alaina Petty. The other is 17-year-old Madeleine Wilford, who was seriously injured. Both girls were members of the religion's congregation in Coral Springs. The Utah-based church lamented in a statement that we "once again we find ourselves as a nation and as communities faced with a tragic loss of life and incomprehensible sorrow" and extended its love to victims and their families. "We unite our prayers with millions of others who are mourning and praying for them," the church said.

Alex Schachter, 14

Alex was a member of the school’s marching band. His father posted on social media that he was a trombone and baritone player. Max Schachter said he is starting a scholarship fund in his son's name.

Alyssa Alhadeff, 15

An amateur soccer club confirmed one of its players, Alyssa Alhadeff was among the students killed in Wednesday’s attack. Parkland Soccer Club posted on its Facebook page that Alhadeff was a "loved and well-respected member of our club and community."

Luke Hoyer, 15

Luke is described as a good kid. His cousin wrote on Facebook, "he had a whole life ahead of him and now I live through him."

Peter Wang, 15

A cousin of Wang, Aaron Chen, told the Miami Herald that Wang was last seen holding a door open so others could get away from the gunman. Wang was a member of the school’s ROTC program.

Carmen Schentrup, 16

In September, Schentrup was named one of 53 National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalists in the county. Schentrup's cousin, Matt Brandow posted on Facebook that the 16-year-old visited Washington State recently and said she wanted to go to the University of Washington.

Joaquin Oliver, 17, senior

Tyra Hemans, 19, said she and Joaquin had been friends since they were freshmen. She was outside the school Thursday holding up two signs, one about gun control and the other about coach Aaron Feis and Joaquin, widely known by his nickname, "Guac," short for "guacamole." Hemans said she last saw her friend at school the day of the shooting.

Earlier in the day, Oliver's sister, Andrea Ghersi shared a photo of her brother on Facebook and wrote that he was missing after the shooting, that the family had contacted several hospitals without being able to find him and that they were waiting at a hotel for victim family members for word. The post was shared more than 8,500 times.

Helena Ramsey, 17

Ramsey's cousin Sefena Cooper described her as soft-spoken but also smart and a go-getter.

Meadow Pollack, 18, senior

Meadow's parents said they called her phone repeatedly only to hear it ring, as they kept an anxious vigil outside the hospital. The Palm Beach Post reported Thursday that her father, Andrew Pollack confirmed that his daughter was among the dead. He said she had planned to attend Lynn University. Family friend Adam Schachtel said in a Facebook post that "an angel was taken away from us in that horrific tragedy ... no words can be said so just prayers and sadness."

Nicholas Dworet, senior

Nicholas was looking forward to college. He had committed to swim for the University of Indianapolis. In a statement, UIndy swimming coach Jason Hite called Dworet an "energetic and very vibrant kind" who cheered for his soon-to-be university during a swimming meet last month.

Aaron Feis, 37, assistant football coach

A football coach who also worked as a security guard is being called a hero for selflessly shielding students when a gunman attacked their school. The football program at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School tweeted about his bravery, saying: "He died a hero and he will forever be in our hearts and memories."

The team website says Feis graduated from the school in 1999 and worked mainly with the junior varsity. It says he lived in nearby Coral Springs with his wife and daughter. The team website says Feis spent his entire coaching career at Marjory Stoneman after playing there as a student.

Scott Beigel, 35, geography teacher

Students say Scott Beigel helped frantic students get into a locked classroom during Wednesday’s shooting. Students credited Beigel with saving their lives. Student Kelsey Friend told Good Morning America that when she heard gunshots and realized it wasn't a drill she followed other students toward the classroom. Beigel "unlocked the door and let us in," she said. "I thought he was behind me, but he wasn't. When he opened the door he had to relock it so we could stay safe, but he didn't get a chance to." Student Bruna Oliveda said she saw Beigel blocking the door.

Chris Hixon, 49, school athletic director

Hixon was the athletic director at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. He was also a veteran of the United States Navy, having served in Iraq.

Chris Hixon was a member of a Roman Catholic church in Hollywood. The Archdiocese of Miami confirmed his death Thursday. When the school needed someone to patrol the campus and monitor threats as a security specialist, Hixon took the job. It was in that security role that Hixon apparently came within range of the shooter.

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