Walmart Shooting Victims' Families Seek Help For Funeral Expenses

THORNTON, CO -- A mundane trip to the local Walmart turned fatal for three shoppers shot and killed Wednesday night. Scott Ostrem, 47, of Arvada was arrested early Thursday and appeared in court Friday, charged with three counts of first-degree murder.

The Adams Co. Coroner's office identified the victims as Victor Vasquez, 26, of Denver, 66-year-old Carlos Moreno of Thornton and Pamela Marques, 52, of Denver.

Friends and family are now trying to make sense of the random deaths, and scrambling to pay unexpected funeral expenses, they say. All three families have asked for financial help online through crowdfunding sites.

According to reports, Vasquez was standing near the checkout line with his mother and fiancee when the gunman appeared and Vasquez urged them to run, according to Channel 9.

Friends and family of Vasquez have asked for financial help online for his fiancee and mother and to cover funeral expenses, and donors from across the country are giving.

As many of you have heard, there was a shooting at the Thornton Walmart. One of the fallen was Victor Vasquez, a father of two beautiful little girls with another child on the way. We are starting a go fund me [sic] to help out his fiancé, Alexis, his mom Jovita, and his children. It will be used to help fund his services and any immediate needs that the family may encounter.

In one day more than 450 donors gave almost $23,000 to the fund.

Moreno was shopping with his wife and daughter when he was shot. He leaves behind two other daughters and grandchildren, according to Channel 9. Moreno worked as a structural trades technician at Auraria Higher Education Center for 18 years.

“He was well-known, friendly, always willing to help,” Blaine Nickeson, chief of staff for the campus told the Denver Post. “Lots of people on campus could rely on him and knew he was someone that could take care of them. He leaves a big hole.”

A family member of Moreno's has started a GoFundMe page.

Marques was a grandmother and helped raise money for her daughter's fast pitch softball team, according to the Denver Post. Her niece, Stephanie Vialpando, of Commerce City, has started a GofundMe account for Marques's family. More than $1,000 was raised the first day. Vialpando posted on Nov. 2:

Last night a heartbreaking incident occurred. 3 families have been changed forever by this. Unfortunately my family was one of those. My dear cousin Brandy has lost her light, her best friend her mom. My aunt Pam was one of those hit by a bullet at the Walmart in Thornton. I’m hoping to reach the goal to help ease the financial burden on my cousin. Anything helps from a penny to a share. No one should have to deal with such a heart breaking thing such as this.

Also See: Suspect In Walmart Killings Called Hostile Loner

Images via GoFundMe: Victor Vasquez, Carlos Moreno and Pamela Marques.