New York

Memorial Service for Husband, Father Killed in San Bernardino Massacre

Hundreds of family members and friends packed a Colton church at an Eritrean ceremony Saturday to honor a 60-year-old man killed in the San Bernardino mass shooting.

Isaac Amanios was one of 14 people killed when a husband and wife opened fire at a holiday event at the Inland Regional Center on Dec. 2.

"Everything that he went through to come to this country, I can't believe he's gone like this," Lila Kelsey, coworker at the service, said through tears.

Amanios was remembered at St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church at 10 a.m.

Amanios, originally from Eritrea, Africa, moved to the U.S. to escape violence in his home country and live the American dream. The supervising environmental health specialist and his wife, Hiwet, had three children and a home in Fontana.

"He was so sweet, and funny," Kelsey said. "He was always so happy."

Amanios and Farook, one of the shooters, sometimes spoke Arabic to each other.

The victim's cousin, New York Giants player Nat Berhe, tweeted about his death.

The FBI is investigating the massacre as an act of terror. According to the agency, shooters Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik were radicalized well before Malik came to the U.S. on a fiancee visa and had discussed jihad and martyrdom as early as 2013.

Victims Tin Nguyen and Shannon Johnson was also laid to rest Saturday. Yvette Velasco, 27, of Fontana was the first victim to be laid to rest on Thursday.

Funerals for 58-year-old Damian Meins and 46-year-old Harry Bowman were held Friday.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the family of Isaac Amanios to help achieve his dream -- that all of his children would go to college.

Contact Us