Petaluma Woman Injured In Las Vegas Mass Shooting

PETALUMA, CA — A Petaluma woman was among those injured Sunday night in Las Vegas when a gunman opened fire on a crowd attending a country music concert. "Our dear friend and fellow classmate Jeannine Ruggiero was present and was impacted by this act of hate," Cindy Brown on behalf of Tina Suhrke, who attends San Jose State University with Ruggiero, wrote on a GoFundMe page set up to raise money for Ruggiero's recovery.

Authorities say 59 people were killed and another 500-plus were injured when gunman Stephen Paddock, 64, senselessly opened fire from his room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino — shooting at some 22,000 people gathered just below for the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival.

"As of right now, [Ruggiero] is suffering from a gunshot wound which has caused a collapsed lung and broken ribs," according to the GoFundMe page. "She is currently conscious and awaiting surgery."

The Victims Of The Las Vegas Shooting

As of Tuesday morning, more than $7,800 had been donated toward Ruggiero's recovery. According to Brown, Ruggiero is a Petaluma resident whose father is a retired San Francisco police officer and whose brother-in-law currently serves as a San Francisco police officer.

"Her family is all there with her still awaiting surgery," according to Brown, who said the fundraising campaign was set up with the blessings of Ruggiero's family members.

Ruggiero, a full-time student in San Jose State's masters of social work online program, had recently entered her final year and is an intern in the University of California San Francisco Medical Center emergency department.

As more victims of the tragedy — the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history — are identified, the news of those injured or killed is touching countless communities not only in California but across the U.S. and abroad.

From the North Bay, Novato resident Stacee Etcheber was among those fatally injured, her family members have learned. Etcheber was attending the concert with her husband, San Francisco police officer Vincent Etcheber. The pair became separated during the shooting when Vincent told his wife to flee the scene while he stayed behind to help victims, according to a statement from San Francisco Police Officers Association President Martin Halloran.

From Rohnert Park, 20-year-old Savanna Chasco, a student at University of Nevada, Reno, was attending the concert with a group of friends and was injured by the gunfire. Tragically, one of her friends perished, her father, Edward Chasco told the SF Gate.

"We are sending our deepest condolences and sympathies to the hundreds of families affected by this senseless act of gun violence," San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee said in a statement.

California Gov. Jerry Brown also released a statement and said Capitol flags would be flown at half-staff in recognition of the victims and their families.

"Our prayers and deepest sympathies are with the families and loved ones of those killed and injured in last night's tragic and senseless shooting, and we stand with the people of Nevada in this difficult time," Brown said.

Photo of Jeannine Ruggiero via GoFundMe.com