Pennsylvania youth coach among victims of Las Vegas mass shooting

Bob Brooks Image
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Pa. little league coach among victims of Vegas shooting
Pa. little league coach among victims of Vegas shootingPa. little league coach among victims of Vegas shooting. Bob Brooks reports during Action News at 4pm on October 3, 2017.

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. (WPVI) -- A coach from southcentral Pennsylvania is among those killed in Sunday night's mass shooting at a country music festival in Las Vegas.

Shippensburg Police said Tuesday that Bill Wolfe Jr. was one of the 59 people killed when a man opened fire on the crowded concert grounds from an upper floor of a nearby casino hotel.

"It is with the most of broken hearts, the families of Bill Wolfe Jr. and his wife Robyn share that Bill has been confirmed to be among the deceased as a result of the mass attack in Las Vegas. Please continue to hold our entire family as well as those affected across the nation in your unending prayers. At this time we ask that you respect the family's privacy during this horrific time. Thank you," the Shippensburg Police Department wrote on Facebook Tuesday morning.

The owner of a surveying and engineering firm says Wolfe had previously worked for him as a professional engineer, contributing to several major projects. Carl Bert describes Wolfe as personable, fun, easy to work with and a devoted Christian.

Wolfe also coached for Shippensburg Little League and Shippensburg Greyhound Wrestling.

With tears streaming down her face, Kellie Perry of the Greyhound Family Restaurant spoke with Action News about Wolfe.

She says he was a coach in the same little league her sons play in.

"Everything you hear about the man and his family is nothing but good. A good citizen taken away from us so unfairly," said Perry.

She felt compelled to have a message of support for the Wolfe family put in the restaurant sign.

A local newspaper says Wolfe and his wife, Robyn, were celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary in Las Vegas.

"You think your mom and dad are just going away and this happens," she said. "I just look at my own son that's 12, and for him to have to go through something like that...."

It was early Tuesday morning that the news broke for most around town that Wolfe had passed.

The little league board released a statement on Tuesday, partly reading:

"His leadership, enthusiasm, and care and concern for these children will be greatly missed and certainly never forgotten in this community."

Wolfe's father, Bill Wolfe Sr., was Shippensburg borough manager for many years.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family with funeral expenses.

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