Community Corner

Crowd Of Strangers Says Goodbye To El Paso Shooting Victim

Margie Reckard, 63, who was killed in the mass shooting in El Paso on Aug. 3 will be buried on Saturday.

Antonio Basco, companion of Margie Reckard, leans on her casket during her funeral at La Paz Faith Memorial & Spiritual Center, Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, in El Paso, Texas
Antonio Basco, companion of Margie Reckard, leans on her casket during her funeral at La Paz Faith Memorial & Spiritual Center, Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, in El Paso, Texas (Jorge Salgado/Associated Press)

EL PASO, Texas (AP) — Thousands of strangers from Los Angeles to Tucson have come to El Paso, Texas, to say goodbye to an El Paso shooting victim after hearing that she had few family members.

Antonio Basco is scheduled Saturday to bury his long-time companion, 63-year-old Margie Reckard, who was killed by a gunman who opened fire at an El Paso Walmart this month.

Attendees waited more than two hours in 100-degree temperatures on Friday after Basco invited the public to attend his companion's funeral.

Find out what's happening in El Pasofor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Angelique Tadeo of Tucson, Arizona says she and her husband, Paul, and their 3-year-old granddaughter drove more than four hours to attend Reckard's memorial. Tadeo worked as a nurse and treated victims during the 2011 shooting in Tucson that injured former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and killed six.

By RUSSELL CONTRERAS Associated Press

Find out what's happening in El Pasofor free with the latest updates from Patch.

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