By JOHN McVEY
The Journal
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Denise Salmon Burditus, 50, of Martinsburg, was killed Sunday when a man opened fire on the audience of an outdoor country music concert in Las Vegas.
Originally from Hedgesville, she and her husband, Tony, were attending the Jason Aldean concert during the three-day Route 91 Harvest Festival.
Sixty-four-year-old Stephen Paddock, of Mesquite, Nevada, allegedly opened fire on the concert audience of about 22,000 from the 32nd floor of the nearby Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, killing at least 58 people and wounding more than 500.
Tony Burditus wrote on his Facebook page that his wife died in his arms.
“It saddens me to say that I lost my wife of 32 years, a mother of two, soon to be grandmother of five this evening in the Las Vegas shooting,” Tony Burditus wrote. “Denise passed in my arms. I LOVE YOU BABE.”
Denise had posted a photograph of herself and Tony at the concert on her own Facebook page about 30 minutes before the shooting began.
Contacted by phone Monday at the family home in Martinsburg, Charles Burditus, Tonyás father, said he had no comment.
“Not at this time,” he said, adding that his son might release a statement later in the week.
Denise and Tony graduated from Hedgesville High School and were described as high school sweethearts, according to published reports.
He was retired from the U.S. Army Special Forces. They had been stationed at several posts. She was in the banking business.
Staff writer John McVey can be reached at 304-263-3381, ext. 128, or twitter @jmcveyJN.
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