HENDERSON, Nev. — Two Utahns died and a third was critically injured Tuesday morning in a shooting in Henderson, Nevada.
Henderson Police said they received reports of a shooting at The Douglas at Stonelake, an apartment complex near Stephanie St. and Wigwam Ave.
Diana Hawatmeh and her son 12-year-old son Joseph "Jojo" died in the shooting, according to friends of Hawatmeh.
Hawatmeh's 16-year-old daughter, Yasmeen, is reported to be in critical condition at a Las Vegas Hospital.
The shooter and another woman also died, according to Henderson Police.
“I would never want this to happen to anyone. This is awful,” said close friend Mary Ann Horne.
At a vigil Wednesday night in Draper, Diana Hawatmeh’s closest friends can’t understand how something so terrible could happen to the nicest family.
“We will miss her more than words could ever express,” said Natalie Montoya.
The tragedy devastates the friends.
“She was one of a kind. She was special. She was graceful. She was elegant. She was kind, so kind,” said Horn.
The Hawatmehs spit their time between Sandy and Henderson to be near family.
Henderson Police said 38-year-old Jason Neo Bourne lived above the family’s apartment and ambushed them Tuesday morning.
Police said Bourne shot Diana, Yasmeen and a 33-year-old woman. Bourne then held Jojo hostage when he was shot.
Bourne was killed in a shootout with police.
“It’s just like a punch in the gut. You don’t really every think something that violent and tragic is going to touch lives in our community,” said Juan Diego Catholic High School principal Galey Colosimo.
The family was a pillar of the Salt Lake County Catholic community. Diana worked as substitute teacher, a popular Zumba instructor and entrepreneur. Joseph was a seventh grader at Saint John the Baptist Middle School.
A message to members of Draper's Juan Diego Catholic Center community said Mr. Hawatmeh and their oldest son, Layth, were not involved in the incident.
Diana’s husband and older son were not at the apartment at the time of the shooting. Police stopped short of offering a motive.
Counselors will be on hand at Juan Diego Schools on Thursday to help students struggling with the tragedy.
Watch FOX 13 for updates.
