UPDATE @ 4:55 p.m.: This is what we know about the victims of the shooting at the Fifth Third Center on Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati:
- There are a reported four dead and two survivors
- One of the survivors is a senior product manager for digital lending at Fifth Third and is recovering surgery
- One of the survivors works for CBRE, a commercial real estate and investment firm
- One who lost his life is believed to be a Xenia High School graduate
- Another of those killed was a consultant with Fifth Third Bank who is from India
- A third person killed was a contract manager, also with Fifth Third Bank
WHITNEY AUSTIN
The 37-year-old Louisville woman was on a conference call as she made her way through the revolving doors of the Fifth Third Center.
A hail of gunfire interrupted that call Thursday morning during the attack by lone gunman Omar Enrique Santa-Perez, who would be shot dead by Cincinnati police within minutes. But before he dropped dead to the floor of the lobby, Austin had taken 12 of his bullets.
Friday, she was alive to talk about it.
Her husband of 12 years, Waller, said she is in good spirits and is a fighter.
"I'm still processing the events from yesterday, the impact to the victims, to me and the community. And I'm thinking about how I can make a difference in the future," Austin, a senior product manager for digital lending at Fifth Third who is based in Louisville.
She is undergoing surgery at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, our partners at WCPO have reported.
"I'm so thankful to the paramedics and first responders and the doctors, nurses and staff at UC Medical," she said.
Whitney earned an entrepreneurial MBA from the University of Louisville while working for Fifth Third Bank, where she has worked since receiving her bachelor’s degree also from U of L in 2003.
"Our family has been overwhelmed by the support we have received from coworkers, family, friends, and total strangers.
"We are so grateful that people want to help and do something," said the mother of two children, 7 and 5. Her family is preparing their next steps and will let people know soon how they may help.
BRIAN SARVER
Brian Sarver, a senior project manager for CBRE, was one of the two injured during during the Sept. 6 shooting.
“Yesterday was a sad day for everyone at CBRE,” read a statement from the commercial real estate and investment firm. “Our colleague, Brian Sarver, was performing work for our client, Fifth Third, on site and was a victim of the shooting in Cincinnati. After undergoing emergency surgery, he is recovering. We are monitoring Brian’s progress and supporting his family at this extremely difficult time.”
Lisa Sarver, Brian’s wife, said she prays every day and thanks god her husband is still alive.
Brian was recently released for the hospital and has an entire community supporting him throughout his recovery.
“He’s trying to be as mobile as possible so that he can heal as quickly as possible,” said The River Church Pastor Brad Mitchell.
Mitchell has known Brian eight years through church and is one of the many people rooting for him as he continues to recover.
“He’s a good man,” Mitchell said. “A man of integrity. He’s got a lot of strength, inner strength and determination, but it’s all packed into a very peaceful, kind personality.”
Brian is also an assistant coach for the Lebanon Warriors fourth grade football team.
The players, which include Brian’s twin boys, have stickers on their helmets in his honor, while the cheerleaders have ribbons.
“Brian’s been great with our kids,” Jeromy Guerra, the Warriors’ coach, told WLWT’s Karin Johnson. “He’s really great. Really likes trying to show them the right way to learn the game. Has fun with the kids.”
Guerra said he’s grateful that Brian is home and healing.
“He’s doing better,” Guerra added. “He’s sore. Still having trouble sleeping.”
On Sept. 12, Brian released a statement through CBRE saying, “I would like thank God for protecting me during the shooting.”
“My immediate focus is getting well again,” it continued. “I look forward to getting back on my feet and returning to work as soon as practical.”
RICHARD NEWCOMER
Richard Newcomer, 64, is believed to be a graduate of Xenia High School and we're continuing to work to confirm that information, based on reporting by this news organization.
He graduated from the Greene County school in June 1972, according to Xenia Community Schools spokeswoman Wendy Planicka.
Newcomer is believed to have continued his schooling at Cincinnati State, then known as Cincinnati Technical College, following his graduation from Xenia.
Carol G. Rader, 64, of Xenia told NewsCenter 7 that she graduated high school with Newcomer. Rader said she went to school with him from kindergarten thru high school, where they were good friends.
“[Newcomer] would do anything for somebody that needed something,” Rader said.
She said the last time she saw Newcomer was eight years ago at a high school reunion. When she heard the news, she said she was heartbroken.
“He was such a good man, at the wrong place, at the wrong time,” Rader said. “We want Rich and the victims to be the ones remembered.”
At Friday afternoon’s vigil for the victims on Fountain Square, Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley said Newcomer’s wife told him her husband was a longtime construction worker who helped build the city.
“He loved the city. . . he loved the Bengals,” the mayor said of Newcomer.
Cincinnati State released a statement this afternoon:
"We believe Richard Newcomer graduated from Cincinnati State (then known as Cincinnati Technical College) in 1974 with a degree in civil engineering, and we are working to confirm this information."
PRUTHVI RAJ KANDEPI
Pruthvi Raj Kandepi, 25 and a consultant with Fifth Third, "was a tremendous member of the IACC [Indian-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky], according to a statement the organization released Friday.
"We won't let this moment define Cincinnati and we will continue working diligently to ensure international students and young professionals are always welcomed and embraced in our city," the organization said in its statement.
A public memorial event will be held for Kandepi at 10 a.m. Sunday, WCPO reports.
Longtime friends told WCPO the event will be held at The Ramada Plaza, 11320 Chester Road, in Sharonville.
"He loved his family to the death. His mom, his dad and his sister were everything to him. And then we came into picture after that -- his friends," Yash Yeddulapall told WCPO.
LUIS FELIPE CALDERON
Luis Felipe Calderon, 48, was a contract manager with Fifth Third Bank, according to a statement from the bank shared during Friday afternoon’s vigil on Fountain Square.
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