Navy Yard Shooting Victims Identified: Stories of 12 People Killed Emerge

The 12 victims who were slain in Monday's tragic shooting at the U.S. Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. have been identified. The victims are: Michael Arnold, 59, Martin Bodrog, 54, Arthur Daniels, 51, Sylvia Frasier, 53, Kathleen Gaarde, 62, John Roger Johnson, 73, Mary Francis Knight, 51, Frank Kohler, 50, Vishnu Pandit, 61, Kenneth Bernard Proctor, 46, Gerald L. Read, 58 and Richard Michael Ridgell, 52. So far, information has been provided about eight of the victims via The Washington Post. 

Michael Arnold

Arnold, 59, worked at the Navy Yard with a team that designed amphibious assault ships. A neighbor said that he was a "wonderful person and a wonderful neighbor." The neighbor, whose name was not released, said that Arnold lived in the neighborhood for at least 12 years, and that he was "the best neighbor ever." Arnold was originally from Rochester, Mich. 

Arnold was also a pilot who was in the process of building a light airplane. 

Arnold's uncle, Steve Hunter, said that Arnold and his wife, Jolanda, had been married for more than 30 years and had two sons, who are now grown. 

"He was a loving son of his mother and his wife, and great father to his kids," Hunter told the Associated Press. "It's tragic. How can you get up in the morning and go to work and have that happen? How do bad things like that happen to good people?"

Arthur Daniels

Daniels, 51, was a father of five and a grandfather of nine. Daniels was a subcontractor for District Furniture Repair in Arlington County, installing office furniture in federal government buildings in the region. On Monday, he happened to be working in the Navy Yard. 

A witness said that Daniels spotted the gunman, who has been confirmed as Aaron Alexis, 34, in Building 197. Daniels and a colleague ran for an elevator. Once they arrived at the elevator, they quickly pushed the button. 

That's when the gunman shot Daniels in the back, killing him, the witness said. 

"It was totally surreal," said the witness, who worked with Daniels.

Daniels' wife, Priscilla Daniella, sobbed when she spoke to the Post, "I don't know why they shot him. He was a good father and hard worker."

"He has this great personality and is always helping others," said Lewis R. Yancey II, who owns District Furniture Repair. "And I have to wonder if he was doing that when he was shot."

Daniels' son, Arthur Jr., said the family was could not "understand why."

Sylvia Frasier

Frasier, 53, was a networks-security administrator with the Naval Sea Systems Command. Her family could not get a hold of her all day, and prayed as they watched the news. The family minister came over, and they sang hymns from the Bible. 

Frasier was one of six siblings. The phone of one of Frasier's sisters, Wendy Edmonds, 52, rang. It was their third-oldest sibling, Lindlee Frasier, calling to say that the FBI informed her that Sylvia was injured and in the hospital. 

"No matter how we feel, no matter what information we get from the FBI, we have got to forgive," Edmonds said upon hearing the news. "We have to forgive. We can't become bitter."

Close to 10 p.m., Lindlee and a brother came to their parents' home to deliver the awful news that Sylvia had died, the Post reported. 

"He killed my sister," Edmonds cried.

Kathleen Gaarde

Gaarde, 62, was a financial analyst at the Navy Yard. Patrick Bolton, a neighbor of Gaarde's and friend of Gaarde's son, Christopher, was devastated upon hearing the news that Kathleen had been killed. Gaarde was a mother of two. 

"She just helped make it a good home for her family and worked hard and provided everything her family could need," Bolton said. "They're the kind of people you want to live next door to you."

Gaarde's husband, Douglass, wrote an e-mail to The Associated Press: "Today my life partner of 42 years (38 of them married) was taken from me, my grown son and daughter, and friends. We were just starting to plan our retirement activities and now none of that matters. It hasn't fully sunk in yet but I know I already dearly miss her."

Douglass Gaarde also worked for the Navy until his retirement last year. 

Bolton said, "The mother was just the kindest lady in the world. I'm not even exaggerating. I've never seen her do anything but nice things for people."

John Roger Johnson

Johnson, 73, was a civilian who worked for the Navy. A neighbor said that he was a "smart man" and "a delightful neighbor." The neighbor said that Johnson had lived for more than 30 years in the Derwood neighborhood. 

"He always had a smile on his face," the neighbor said. "He loved children. He loved our grandchildren. No one could ask for a better neighbor."

Frank Kohler

Kohler, 50, was a resident of St. Mary's County. A neighbor said that he was married and had two daughters. A family member declined to comment. 

Vishnu Pandit

Pandit, 61, lived in North Potomac for at least 20 years. A neighbor of Pandit's, Zhaohua Zhou, said, "I'm astonished. I'm just so sorry," the Post reported. 

Another neighbor, Mike Honig, described Pandit as "a very nice man with an Irish setter."

"All of the neighbors are doing all they can," Honig said. "It's a terrible tragedy...It's a stain and strain on the nation that we haven't put public safety laws in place to prevent this sort of tragedy."

Pandit's family declined to comment. 

Kenneth Bernard Proctor

Proctor, 46, a civilian utilities foreman in the Navy Yard, only wanted some breakfast on Monday morning.

Proctor did not work in Building 197. His ex-wife, Evelyn Proctor, told The Associate Press, "It was a routine thing for him to go there in the morning for breakfast, and unfortunately it happened."

He and Evelyn were high school sweethearts who still talked everyday, even after their divorce. 

"We were still very close. It wasn't a bitter divorce," she said. "We still talked every day, and we lived 10 minutes away from each other."

She said he was "a very loving, caring, gentle person."

Evelyn said Kenneth was raised in Charles County, Md., where he still resided, and was an avid Redskins fan. He worked for the federal government for 22 years. He leaves behind two sons: Kendull, 15, and Kenneth Jr., 17, who recently enlisted in the Army. 

There is no information at this time about Gerald L. Read, Richard Michael Ridgell, Mary Francis Knight and Martin Bodrog. Updates will be provided once more information is gathered.