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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
World
OLIVIA BLAIR

Oregon shooting: British-born woman named as one of gunman's nine victims

A British woman has been named as one of the victims of the Oregon college shooting.

Kim Dietz was one of the nine victims allegedly killed by Chris Harper-Mercer, 26, during Thursday’s mass shooting.

The 59-year-old was a mature student who was studying at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon.

She was born in Edmonton, North London, but moved to the US as a child, according to reports.

Ms Dietz’s aunt, Patricia Fountain, told The Sun: “She was just the sort of person to have a go. She was so kind.”

As well as taking classes at the college, Ms Dietz also worked as a caretaker at the Pyrenees Vineyards in Myrtle Creek. Her employer, Robert Stryk told CTV news she was a “very energetic, very kind soul.”

He said: “Really the tragedy here is that this is a woman who was just trying to better herself.”

Ms Dietz’s 18-year-old daughter Shannon also studied at the college but was unharmed in the shooting, according to The Sun.

Harper-Mercer stormed Umpqua Community College on Thursday, allegedly demanding to know his victims' religious beliefs before firing shots.

Police said the gunmen shot himself as they arrived on the scene. Various reports have identified Harper-Marcer as having an English father and a British passport.

Additonal reporting by the Press Association.

 

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