By Minyvonne Burke and Julie Goldstein - NBC News
Nine people were killed Wednesday when an employee in California opened fire on co-workers with the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA).
The most recent shooting amid a worrying rise in gun violence in the United States and with record numbers of gun sales, occurred shortly after 6:30 a.m. (PST) in downtown San Joseph.
The victims were found in two buildings, Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith said.
They were identified as Paul Delacruz Megia, 42;
Taptejdeep Singh, 36;
Adrian Balleza, 29;
José Dejesús Hernández III, 35;
Timothy Michael Romo, 49;
Michael Joseph Rudometkin, 40;
Abdolvahab Alaghmandan, 63;
Lars Kepler Lane, 63;
and Alex Ward Fritch, 49.
This is what we know about the people who lost their lives.
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Taptejdeep Singh
Taptejdeep Singh's family said the man, who is survived by a widow and two children, was trying to warn colleagues that there was an armed attacker when he was hit by the bullets.
His uncle, Sukhwant Singh Dhillon, told NBC News that Taptejdeep ran around the building alerting his co-workers and locking the doors, after hearing gunshots nearby.
Taptejdeep Singh. Family Photo
"The only thing we know for sure is that, even in his last moments, he helped others.
He made phone calls to his friends to warn them that there was an armed attacker and not to enter,
" said his cousin, Harpartap Singh.
"Even in the last moments, he did not seek his own safety: he tried to save people. That was him."
Taptejdeep, 36, had immigrated to the United States from India with his family and attended college here.
After his higher education, he began working for the VTA.
His family said he worked as a light rail operator and loved his job.
Outside of work, Taptejdeep devoted himself to his community and family - his wife, one-year-old daughter, and three-year-old son.
The attacker in the San José massacre was armed with two semiautomatic pistols and 11 magazines.
May 27, 202101: 59
The community was devastated by his death and more than 100 people attended a meeting Wednesday to remember him.
"Everyone loved him," Harpartap Singh said.
His family is "deeply grieving," Sukhwant Singh Dhillon said.
"It's hard to put that pain into words," added Harpartap Singh,
"a dad who went to work and didn't come home. That's very, very unfortunate."
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Paul Delacruz Megia
Paul Delacruz Megia began working with the VTA in 2002 as a bus operator trainee.
The company said it later became a light rail operator before taking various supervisor positions.
At the time of his death, he was deputy superintendent for service management.
His wife, Nicole Yamada, issued a statement after his death.
Paul Delacruz Megia via LinkedIn
"Paul was a wonderful husband and father who was full of love, jokes, energy for life and always up for new adventures. I cherish all our memories," she said.
"God took you too soon and I would do anything to give you one last hug and say goodbye. I will
miss having my best friend by my side. I will always love you."
His sister, Luci Megia, recalled how he loved to tell jokes and was "an inspiration" to those who knew him.
"His life was cut short and he had so many adventure plans for his family," she said in a statement, "my dad lost a best friend. We love you and miss you, Paul."
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José Dejesus Hernández III
José Dejesus Hernández III began working for VTA in 2012 as a traffic mechanic, the company said at a news conference Thursday.
Later he became an electromechanical and then a substation mechanic.
His ex-wife, Sarah Raelyn, described him as the calmest and most level-headed person she had ever met.
He also said that he spent his life "worshiping the Lord and just helping people."
Jose Dejesus Hernandez IIIvia Facebook
The couple married on June 20, 2009 after meeting through mutual friends.
They divorced in August.
Raelyn said that even though their marriage ended, his younger brother still looked up to Hernandez and the couple remained "like best friends."
On the morning of his death,
Raelyn said someone texted him an article about the shooting
and said they were having trouble communicating with Hernandez.
"I tried to be pragmatic and say: 'He's fine ... I'm sure he's fine.' And when I saw the time they called me, I knew that he had come to work at just 6:30," He said.
Around 11:00 am, Hernández's godmother called her to share the tragic news.
"He was the most loving, romantic and generous man I have ever met," she said Thursday in an emotional telephone interview, "I am speechless."
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Michael Joseph Rudometkin
San José City Councilman Raúl Peralez said he was a friend of Michael Joseph Rudometkin, whom he referred to as "Mikey" in a Facebook post in which he mourned his death.
Michael Joseph Rudometkin.via Facebook
"My family and I have lost a great old friend and there are no words to describe the pain we are feeling right now, especially for his family," Peralez wrote.
"Personally, it has been difficult to find the right words and I will be spending much needed time with family and friends tonight. Thank you to all who have reached out and offered their thoughts and support."
Rudometkin began working for VTA in 2013 as a mechanic, according to the company.
Later he became an electromechanical and later an airline worker.
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The other victims
Abdolvahab Alaghmandan's family declined to be interviewed on Thursday.
The families of Adrian Balleza, Timothy Michael Romo, Lars Kepler Lane and Alex Ward Fritch could not be immediately reached.
The VTA said Thursday that it has been in communication with the nine families to "share the condolences and grief" of the transit agency.
["I'm not going to shoot you." The murderer of San José used three semi-automatic pistols and chose his victims]
"We want all of our employees to know that we are all grieving together and we want to do everything we can to support each other," an official said at the press conference.
Authorities
have not commented on the possible motives of the attacker
, who was identified by police as Samuel Cassidy. The 57-year-old, also an employee of the VTA, took his own life after the massacre.