Families of the victims are speaking out about the murders of 5 people in Lake Havasu City Saturday

primo_20100830142813_JPG

Primo Verdone
Copyright 2010 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

broc_20100830142700_JPG

Broc Kelson
Copyright 2010 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

diez_20100829122251_JPG

Copyright 2010 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Advertisement

Posted: 08/29/2010

LAKE HAVASU CITY, AZ - Family members of several victims killed in Saturday night in Lake Havasu City are speaking out about the deaths of their loved ones.

Just before midnight Saturday, a man entered a Lake Havasu City home and shot six people, including the mother of his children, before abducting his son and daughter.

Lake Havasu Police Sgt. Joe Harrold said Deborah Langstaff, 23, Primo Verdone, 24, Russell Nyland, 42, and Ashleigh Nyland, 20, were pronounced dead at the scene.

"I'm speaking on behalf of Lake Havasu, those people were beloved people," said friend of the Nylands Wayne Aquino. "We'll never forget them."

Two victims, Broc Kelson, 20, and Deborah Nyland, 42, were transported to the hospital, where Kelson died early Sunday. Nyland is currently listed in fair condition at a Las Vegas hospital.

"He was just at the wrong place at the wrong time," said Broc Kelson's uncle, Todd Kelson.  "He'll be greatly missed by his parents and his sister and his entire family."

According to Harrold, dispatchers received a 911 call just before midnight reporting an intruder had entered the house and shot several people. Police also discovered two young children had been abducted from the home.

Authorities investigating the incident identified 26-year-old Brian Diez as the shooting suspect. Harrold said Diez had fathered a 4-year-old daughter and 13-month-old son with Langstaff, but the couple had been estranged.

"It's so senseless that one person can come in and take the lives of people who had nothing to do with his situation," added Todd Kelson.

An amber alert was issued at 2:35 a.m. Sunday after Diez abducted his two children and fled the scene.

Harrold said Diez ended up in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. early Sunday, where he committed suicide at a family member's home. The amber alert was canceled at 3:51 a.m. after the kids were located safely with relatives inside the residence.

"He's ruined those kids' lives," added Aquino. "His own children, he ruined their lives."

According to police, Diez and Langstaff were involved in a custody dispute at the time of the incident. Harrold said Diez was arrested on August 13 for violating a restraining order filed by Langstaff.

Family members of Primo Verdone, who asked to not be identified, said Verdone currently served in the United States Navy and was preparing for deployment overseas.

"He was a good kid who had his whole life in front of him," said the unidentified family member.

"All of us are taking it very hard," added Todd Kelson.  "We're coping with it one day, one hour at a time."

A memorial fund has been set up in Broc Kelson's name. To contribute, just visit any Wells Fargo bank branch and ask to donate to the Broc Kelson Memorial Fund.

Copyright 2010 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  • Comments
  • Marketplace
advertisement

Did You Hear?


  1. What? Tracking students using microchips

    What? Tracking students using microchips

    A school district in San Antonio has just unveiled plans to test out a new microchip system that will track students.

  2. Huh? Bike-riding Darth Vader robs bank

    Huh? Bike-riding Darth Vader robs bank

    The force was with employees an Ohio bank on Wednesday when a man wearing a Darth Vader mask robbed the place at gunpoint.

    • PHOTOS: AARP's sexiest men over 50

      PHOTOS: AARP's sexiest men over 50

      Who says older men can't be sexy? AARP just came out with its list of Sexiest Men Over 50 and the list is not just based on looks. Check out who made the list!

      • Stay Connected