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Brother says victims in South Haven shooting loved spending retirement on the beach

A family member of the victims said that the couple was married for nearly 50 years and loved taking walks on the South Haven beach.

SOUTH HAVEN, Mich. — Charles Skuza, 73, and his wife of nearly 50 years Barbara Skuza, 71, loved spending time at the South Haven beach. 

The married couple were victims of a random attack on the South Haven pier Friday.

Charles died at the scene, while medics rushed Barbara to a hospital in critical condition. 

Charles' brother, Barry Skuza, said that the couple loved taking walks on the South Haven beach. 

He also shared that Charles was a retired biologist who worked at a Kalamazoo hospital. That's where he met Barbara, who also worked there as a nurse.

Credit: Family of Charles and Barbara

Tuesday evening, the family of Charles and Barbara released a statement about their loss:

“We are devastated beyond belief over the loss of our beloved father and we continue to pray for the recovery of our mother who we hold very dear. We are forever thankful for the first responders, doctors, and nurses who acted courageously to save our mother’s life. We wish to extend our gratitude to the medical staff continuing to provide critical care and encouragement to our family. We stand in solidarity with the community. We will not be defeated by senseless violence. Thank you for your prayers and for respecting our need for privacy during this difficult time.”

Aidan Ingalls, 19, allegedly shot the couple around 2:15 p.m. on Friday before turning a gun on himself.

Ingalls was pronounced dead at the scene.

RELATED: South Haven pier shooter identified, planned an attack on Paw Paw High School in 2018

South Haven Police Chief Natalie Thompson said the shooting was a random act.

Police say Ingalls was also the Paw Paw student who planned an attack on his high school in March 2018. He was just 15 at the time.

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