One of two mass shootings this weekend has claimed the life of a central Pennsylvania student. Nicholas Cumer, who was killed in the Dayton, Ohio shooting, was a graduate student at St. Francis University in Loretto. He completed his undergraduate degree at St. Francis, and was pursuing a graduate degree in the university’s Master of Cancer Care program
According to a statement from the president of St. Francis, Father Malachi Van Tassell, Cumer was in Dayton doing an internship with the Maple Tree Cancer Alliance.
Maple Tree offered Cumer a full-time position just days before he was killed, the organization said on its Facebook page. It said Cumer was one week away from completing his internship.
"He loved his patients and served them well," Maple Tree's post said,"with a loving and caring spirit. He continuously went above and beyond our expectations and worked with a high level of excellence. He was well liked and respected by everyone on our team, and we all will miss him very much."
“Nicholas was dedicated to caring for others,” the statement from Van Tassell said. “We join the nation in mourning Nicholas, alongside all of the victims of this tragedy.”
The statement also said a memorial mass for Cumer will be held at at the university this week, and counseling staff will be available to help the St. Francis community in the wake of the tragedy.
Cumer's family released the following statement through a relative: “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.”
