Robbie Parker, 30, the father of six-year-old Emilie, discusses 'horrific tragedy' and tells of 'beautiful, blonde, smiling' daughter
Relatives of the victims of the Sandy Hook school shootings have been speaking about their grief, as the names of the victims were officially published on Saturday.
Robbie Parker, 30, father of six-year-old Emilie Parker, showed remarkable compassion in remarks in which he extended his support to the family of the man who took his daughter's life.
"It is a horrific tragedy and I want everyone to know that our hearts and prayers go out to them. This includes the family of the shooter," Parker said.
"I cannot imagine how hard this experience is for you. Our love and support goes out to you as well."
Parker, who works at Danbury Hospital – where two of the shot children were taken, and later died – explained that at first he did not believe that the incident was "a big deal". When initial reports gave way to something far more serious, he was initially unable to get to the school. "The hospital was on lockdown. I couldn't get to the school right away."
He described his daughter as "beautiful, blonde, always smiling", adding: "She was the type of person that could just light up a room. She always had something kind to say about anybody."
"She is an incredible person and I'm so blessed to be her dad," he said.
Neil Heslin, 50, father of six-year old Jesse Lewis, told the New York Post that he had been planning to visit his son's class Friday afternoon to make gingerbread houses. "I dropped him off at school at 9am. He went happily," Heslin said. "That was the last I saw of him."
Heslin received a call from the school after the shooting and was told that all surviving children had been evacuated. His son was not with the children and his death was confirmed Saturday morning. "He was just a happy boy," Heslin said. "Everybody knew Jesse."
Lewis was taught by Victoria Soto, another victim of the shooting. Soto's cousin Jim Wiltsie spoke to ABC News about the 27-year-old teacher. "In our eyes, she's a hero," Wiltsie said.
"She was trying to shield [them], getting her children into a closet and protect them from harm. And by doing that put herself between the gunman and the children and that is when she was tragically shot and killed."
Wiltsie said the family took some comfort knowing that Soto died doing a job that she loved.
"Her life dream was to be a teacher and her instincts kicked in when she saw there was harm coming towards her students," he said. "She lost her life doing what she loved. She loved her kids. Her goal in life was to be a teacher to mould young minds."
The family of Lauren Rousseau, 30, another of the teachers who died, said she had worked as a permanent substitute teacher since October.
"It was the best year of her life,'' Teresa Rousseau, Lauren's mother told The News-Times, where she works as a copy editor.
"She had so many interests – music, dance, theater,'' Teresa said of her daughter.
The two lived together in Danbury, Connecticut, where Louise was raised. "I'm used to having people die who are older, not the person whose room is up over the kitchen,'' she said.
Lauren's father Gilles Rousseau said: "She was like a kid in many ways. That's why she liked working with kids so much. She died with her little kids.''
Lauren had plans to see The Hobbit Friday night with her boyfriend Tony Lusardi III. He spoke of how Lauren lived her life and said: "I called her Busy Bee. She called me Worker Bee.''
---
Guardian