UPDATE: Another victim of Navy Yard shooting has connections to Liberty

Liberty University administration learned early this morning that another victim of the Washington Navy Yard shooting, Richard Michael (Mike) Ridgell of Westminster, Md., was the father of Liberty alumna Heather Hunt, who graduated with a master’s in professional counseling last spring. Ridgell was a security guard at the Navy Yard.

At the start of Wednesday’s Convocation, Vice President of Communications Johnnie Moore announced to the student body that two of the 12 men killed had close connections to the Liberty family. Frank Kohler is the father of Alexandra and Meghan Kohler, current Liberty students. Martin Bodrog is the father of Liberty graduate Isabel Bodrog (’13).

Moore and President Jerry Falwell, Jr. have expressed their personal sympathy to the victims’ families. On Wednesday, Moore led the student body, faculty, and staff in a prayer for them and for the families of all the victims.

“We are a heartbroken community this morning for those members of the Liberty family,” Moore said.

He asked today that Liberty students, faculty, and staff continue to pray, passing along a specific request from Hunt for those attending her father’s funeral who will be hearing the message of salvation: “that God prepare, soften, and break the hearts of already hurting hearts to the point of spiritual surrender.”

Read about Ridgell, Kohler, Bodrog, and the other victims in The Washington Post.