Photo courtesy: SBCS
In memory of the victims: Shannon Johnson, 45, Los Angeles (DOB: 03/06/70), Bennetta Bet-Badal, 46, Rialto (DOB: 03/08/69), Aurora Godoy, 26, San Jacinto (DOB: 02/01/89), Isaac Amanios, 60, Fontana (DOB: 06/29/55), Larry Kaufman, 42, Rialto (DOB: 08/12/73), Harry Bowman, 46, Upland (DOB: 06/08/69), Yvette Velasco, 27, Fontana (DOB: 04/03/88), Sierra Clayborn, 27, Moreno Valley (DOB: 06/15/88), Robert Adams, 40, Yucaipa (DOB: 05/02/75), Nicholas Thalasinos, 52, Colton (DOB: 10/14/63), Tin Nguyen, 31, Santa Ana (DOB: 04/06/84), Juan Espinoza, 50, Highland (DOB: 06/24/65), Damian Meins, 58, Riverside (DOB: 02/02/57), Michael Wetzel, 37, Lake Arrowhead (DOB: 04/29/78)

By Monique Valadez

SAN BERNARDINO – On the morning of Dec. 2, Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, of Redlands, who worked as an inspector with the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, attended an employee holiday gathering at the Inland Regional Center. According to police, Farook left the gathering abruptly and returned with his wife Tahfeen Malik, 27. Witnesses said the couple opened fire, massacring 14 coworkers and wounded 21 others.

Some call it the worst terrorist attack on American soil since Sept. 11, 2001.

“It was overwhelming and surreal,” Fontana Police Officer Scott Snieder, a first responder on the scene last week, said. “Immediately, it hit home that this was not a training drill. It was one of the worst things I’ve had to experience in my entire career.”

Despite this tragedy and loss, all communities in the county are stronger than ever.

“The real heroes are those who were in the room that day who protected others and pulled injured out of the building,” McMahon said during a press conference. “They acted selflessly and courageously not thinking about what would happen to them but what they could do to save someone else.”

Many took to social media to post their support and well wishes to first responders and local law enforcement.

“This shooting has caused each victims family, friends and co-workers, along with the first responders, to suffer an enormous personal tragedy. We must stand strong and offer support to each individual affected by this senseless attack”, stated San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon.

County Sheriff’s Department has kept the community abreast on the investigation through their Facebook page. They reassure resident’s that their safety is of utmost importance.

“As we continue to mourn with ‪#‎SanBernardino and the entire world, we know that despite it all our communities are strong,” the sheriff’s department posted on their Facebook page. “Rest assured that all agencies in San Bernardino County’s main priority is to protect the citizens.

Law enforcement continues to ask the community to be cautious and report any suspicious behavior to the authorities.

“We ask that you stay vigilant, be aware of your surroundings and most importantly if you see something, say something,” authorities said on Facebook.

At this time, investigators are still trying to piece together profiles of the couple who killed coworkers and died in a gun fight with police last week. Local agencies will continue to work with the FBI.