Maya Rodriguez / Eyewitness News
KENNER, La.-- Surrounded by mementos of his military service, Janet Scaruffi is holding onto memories of her grandson: 35-year-old Maj. Heath Kelly.
"This kind of pain-- there's no medicine," she said.
Kelly was one of three National Guard members who were killed after a man opened fire at an IHOP restaurant on Tuesday in Carson City.
Kelly was born and raised in Kenner, but his military service took him far away from the New Orleans area. He attended a military college in Vermont, before being stationed at a base in Korea and going through a tour of duty in Iraq from 2004 to 2005. He survived that, only to be gunned down in the Nevada shooting rampage.
"He had a true heart," a visibly emotional Scaruffi said. "He had a true heart for his country. He had a true heart for his family."
Police identified the gunman as 32-year-old Eduardo Sencion, who turned the gun on himself after opening fire. Investigators said Sencion had a history of mental illness.
"It hurts to know that everything that should've been won't be because somebody chose to do the wrong thing," Scaruffi said. When asked if she was angry at the shooter, she replied: "No. I'm very sorrowful for him because he evidently didn't have a life."
It is not just Kelly's relatives who are in mourning -- so is his family at John Curtis Christian School, where he played on both the football team and in the marching band.
"He was a fine young man and we're going to miss him," his high school football coach J.T. Curtis said. "But, more importantly, the country is going to miss him."
Kelly is survived by his wife and two young children: a nearly 5-year-old daughter and a 9-week-old baby boy.
"I choose to remember him as an honorable father and husband and defender of peace," Scaruffi said. "It's such a waste -- such a waste of such a wonderful human being."
Funeral arrangements are pending. John Curtis plans to honor Kelly with a moment of silence at the Superdome, when the high school football team plays their game at 6 p.m.
Kelly's family said those who want to honor him can help by supporting the troops through the non-profit "Soldiers' Angels," which they have been involved with for a number of years. For more information, go to www.soldiersangels.org.
