We're learning more about the victims of Wednesday's shooting at the VTA rail yard in San Jose, all male VTA employees between the ages of 29 and 63.
The Santa Clara County Examiner-Coroner's Office released eight of their names late Wednesday. A ninth victim passed away a short time later.
The victims were remembered during an emotional press conference on Thursday. "To us at the VTA, they are friends and family. We want to honor their memory," said Glenn Hendricks, VTA board chair.
The event took place not far from the site of the shooting.
"I saw the immense pain in the faces of the families and I heard their cries when they got the news. It was heart wrenching," said Evelynn Tran, VTA acting general manager and CEO. "I want to honor them and I want to mourn for them and with their families," she later added.
Paul Delacruz Megia, age 42
Megia was a light rail operator, transportation supervisor, transit division supervisor and an assistant superintendent in VTA Service Management. He started with VTA in 2002 as a bus operator trainee. Megia was honored in a Facebook post paying tribute to those killed, calling him "a ray of sunshine."
Taptejdeep Singh, age 36
Singh came to VTA in 2014 as a bus operator trainee and became a light rail operator. The father of two pushed a co-worker into a room to protect her from the gunman and then frantically called other co-workers to warn them what was happening, his family said.
Adrian Balleza, age 29
Balleza was a Gilroy resident who grew up in San Jose. He was married and had a young son, as reported by KPIX-5. He started at VTA as a bus operator trainee in 2014 and later became a maintenance worker and light rail operator.
Jose Dejesus Hernandez III, age 35
Hernandez started with VTA in 2012 as a transit mechanic, later becoming an electro mechanic and substation maintainer.
Timothy Michael Romo, age 49
Romo was an overhead line worker at VTA for over 20 years.
Michael Joseph Rudometkin, age 40
Rudometkin came to VTA as an electro mechanic in 2013. His cousin, Christina Gonzalez, waited at the hospital on Wednesday night with KCBS Radio's Margie Shafer hoping her worst fears wouldn't come true. He was remembered by a friend in a Facebook post: "My family and I have lost a long time great friend and there are no words to describe the heartache we are feeling right now, especially for his family."
Abdolvahab Alaghmandan, age 63
Alaghmandan worked for VTA for 20 years as a substation maintainer.
Lars Kepler Lane, age 63
Lane started his career with VTA in 2001 as an electro mechanic, and eventually moved into an overhead line worker position.
Alex Ward Fritch, age 49
Fritch worked as a substation maintainer. He died late Wednesday from his injuries after initially being listed in critical condition at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center following the shooting.
The San Jose community will gather for a vigil at City Hall at 6 p.m.
Related
