The Latest on a funeral of an El Paso shooting victim who had few family (all times local):
6 p.m.
Hundreds of strangers have come to pay their respects for a victim of the El Paso, Texas, mass shooting who had few family members.
The mourners braved 100-degree heat Friday to stand outside an El Paso funeral home to honor 63-year-old Margie Reckard. She was one of 22 people killed by a gunman who opened fire at a Walmart in the city earlier this month.
Jordan Billard flew in from Los Angeles on Friday after hearing Reckard’s long-time companion, Antonio Basco, say he lost his closest family member and had few relatives left. After she heard him inviting the public to the funeral, the 38-year-old Billard says she bought a ticket to come to Texas.
Twenty-one-year-old Natalie Sanchez of El Paso also came to the service and says she’s in awe of how her city is rallying around a stranger.
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12 a.m.
When 63-year-old Margie Reckard was killed by a gunman who opened fire at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, earlier this month, Antonio Basco lost his entire world. So, as the man who felt so alone planned her funeral, he invited the world to join him in remembering his companion of 22 years.
Since then, condolences and orders for flowers have poured in. When her funeral is held Friday evening in El Paso, an overflow crowd is expected.
Perches Funeral Homes director Harrison Johnson says, “He felt like he was going to kind of just be by himself with this whole thing but it’s not so — it’s going to be amazing.”
The funeral has been moved from one of Perches’ funeral homes to a larger venue, and the public is also welcome at Reckard’s burial Saturday morning.
