On December 5, 2007, Gary Eugene Scharf, 48, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was among the people killed when a gunman opened fire inside the Von Maur department store at Omaha’s Westroads Mall. Scharf had been on a business trip and stopped at the store to do Christmas shopping before a flight. He is described as a charismatic, adventurous man who worked in the agricultural chemical industry and was devoted to his family; his ex-wife had been planning to remarry him.

Witness accounts say Scharf helped a woman on an escalator shortly before he was shot. The shooter, Robert Hawkins, 19, fired with a rifle and killed multiple people during the attack. The victims, including Scharf, were mourned by family and community members for the sudden and senseless loss.

If anyone knew Gary Scharf or was at the Westroads Mall that day and has memories to share, please post what you remember.