A Valencia man and a Palmdale woman, both parents, died on Sunday when a gunman opened fire in Las Vegas on over 20,000 concertgoers in what's been recorded as the deadliest mass shooting in US history.
John Phippen of Valencia was with his son at the Route 91 Harvest Country Music Festival when 64-year-old Stephen Craig Paddock shot and killed over 50 people and injured over 500 others. Phippen was one of the victims who died during the shooting.
He was a father of five with his youngest child being 14 years old. He is remembered as being a loving father who would always lend a helping hand.
"He was a character, an amazing man," Phippen's friend Leah Nagyivanyi said.
Phippen, whose focus in life was caring for his family and loved ones, owned a home remodeling company.
"If he didn't know you and you needed help, he was there; no questions asked," Paul Nagyivanyi said.
Jenny Parks of Palmdale also attended the concert with her husband, Bobby, when she was killed during the shooting.
News
Top news of the day
Parks and her husband were both shot by the gunman. Her husband survived.
She was a mother of two whose dedication was to her family. She was also a kindergarten teacher.
"She was an amazing person," Rodolfo Garces, whose daughter was a student of Parks, said. "She was always involved with the kids and the kids loved her."
Parks' relatives remember as being an extraordinary parent. Her father in law, Gary, said she was the "best mother in the whole world."
"I think she was fun and nice and she was really friendly," one of her kindergarten students, Evelyn Garces said.
If you would like to donate to a GoFundMe account set up to help fund funerals for Phippen and/or for Parks, you may do so here and here. Note that GoFundMe deducts 7.9 percent of all funds raised in the form of platform and payment processing charges.
