Pittsburgh-area man among those killed in Dayton mass shooting

DAYTON, Ohio — A Pittsburgh-area man was among those killed in Sunday morning's mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio.

Nicholas Cumer was a student at Saint Francis University and graduated from Washington High School in 2012.

"The one thing that I always remember, he greeted you with a handshake and left class every day. ‘Have a good day, Mr. Henderson,' with a handshake," Washington High School Principal Chad Henderson said.

Cumer was a graduate student in the Master of Cancer Care program. He was in Dayton as part of his internship program with the Maple Tree Cancer Alliance.

A second Saint Francis University student, 23-year-old Kelsey Colaric, of Parma, Ohio, was injured during the shooting and is recovering. She, too, is a graduate student in the Master of Cancer Care program and was interning at Maple Health Cancer Alliance along with Cumer, the university said.

Last night, three of our trainers were shot in the mass shooting in the Oregon District. While two are expected to make...
Posted by Maple Tree Cancer Alliance on Sunday, August 4, 2019

The Maple Tree Cancer Alliance said on Facebook that just last week, they offered Cumer a full-time position to run one of their new offices.

"He wanted to dedicate his life to serving cancer patients and I think that's such an honorable thing," Karen Wonders said.

She is the Executive Director of the cancer center.

"When we were looking at who to hire, he was number one and it was unanimous among our leadership that he's the one who should run it," she said.

Wonders said the world lost so many bright lights in Dayton, Cumer among them. She said his colleagues took him to Ned Peppers, the bar where the shooting occurred, to celebrate.

She said another intern jumped in and gave first aid to his wounded friends and potentially saved lives.

"I know he was helping the other trainers afterwards with the bleeding, to stop the bleeding. I just looked at him as a hero. I know he's really struggling right now," Wonders said.

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Cumer's friends said he was planning to come back to the Pittsburgh area to visit in the coming weeks.

"Just waiting for him to pop up and say Nick's typing. But we know he's not going to," Tim Hornick said.

He said he still checks his phone, and he's still in disbelief he won't get a message back. Hornick said he and Cumber met at St. Francis University and were in the same fraternity together.

"It's a small campus but it's 3000 students. There's not a name or a person who didn't know who Nick was or didn't smile when they saw him," he said.

Cumer's family has released the following statement:

"We are heartbroken by the loss of our Nicholas in this senseless act on August 4. As our family grieves, we ask for privacy at this time. Thank you."

St. Francis University President Fr. Malachi Van Tassell also released a statement:

"Nicholas was dedicated to caring for others. He was recognized at the 2019 Community Engagement Awards among students who had completed 100+ hours of service. In addition, he was a graduate assistant with the university marching band.

"We join the nation in mourning Nicholas, alongside all of the victims of this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with their family and friends during this most difficult time."

Cumer's fraternity posted to Facebook:

University officials said a Mass would be celebrated in Cumer's memory later in the week.

St. Francis University is located in Loretto, Pennsylvania, which is in Cambria County.

Cox Media Group