BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A Bakersfield native was among those killed in a shooting in Virginia Beach on Friday, according to a family relative.
Katherine Nixon, 42, grew up in Bakersfield and graduated from Bakersfield High School in 1994. She was working as an engineer at the Department of Public Utilities when a city employee opened fire on Friday, killing her along with 11 other people. Nixon was a wife and mother of three, including a 15-month-old baby, according to Nixon's grandmother, Claudia Blodget.
Nixon was taken to the hospital where she died during surgery.
"She deserves to be honored and remembered," said Blodget.
Blodget said she heard about the shooting on the news at her home in Tehachapi and realized that the shooting took place in the Public Utilities building where her granddaughter worked. Blodget said she then contacted other relatives who confirmed that Nixon had been shot. At around 10:15 p.m., Blodget learned that her granddaughter had died.
Blodget, who owns a quilt store in Tehachapi, said she was married to Nixon's biological grandfather for 14 years. Blodget said she and Nixon had been distant for some time, but had recently reconnected.
Nixon is survived by her husband, Jason and three daughters: Morgan, 11, Madilyn, 7, and Mckinzie, only 15 months old.
