Of the 12 victims in Friday’s mass shooting at a city building in Virginia Beach, 11 were employed by the city.
At a news conference Saturday morning, Virginia Beach City Manager Dave Hansen showed a slide show that pictured the victims and detailed their experience was with the city, which ranged from 11 months to 41 years.
“We are going to wrap our arms around who served with us in Virginia Beach,” Hansen said.
Only Herbert "Bert" Snelling did not work for the city. He was a contractor who was trying to fill a permit Friday afternoon.
Robert "Bobby" Williams, of Chesapeake, had the most seniority among the victims. He was a special projects coordinator who worked 41 years in Virginia Beach's public utilities department.
Also working in public utilities was Richard H. Nettleton of Norfolk, who served 28 years.
Related: Virginia Beach shootings: Suspect's family expresses condolences
Mary Louise Gayle, of Virginia Beach, was a 24-year veteran who worked in the public works department.
Other victims who were employed in the public works department were Alexander Mikhail Gusev, of Virginia Beach, a nine-year veteran; Tara Welch Gallagher, of Virginia Beach, an engineer with six years of experience; and Laquita C. Brown of Chesapeake, a right-of-way agent who spent 4½ years in the department.
Credit: Courtesy City of Virginia Beach
Credit: Courtesy City of Virginia Beach
Christopher Kelly Rapp of Powhatan, who also served in the public works department, had been on the job for only 11 months.
The other four victims worked in the public utilities office.
Ryan Keith Cox, of Virginia Beach, was an account clerk for 12½ years; Michelle "Missy" Langer, of Virginia Beach, had been an administrative assistant for 12 years; Katherine A. Nixon, of Virginia Beach, was an engineer with 10 years of experience; and Joshua A. Hardy of Virginia Beach, was an engineering technician for 4½ years.
“They leave a void that will never be filled,” Hansen said.
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