Utah Man Killed in London Terror Attack

Kurt Cochran, 54, was killed; wife Melissa seriously injured
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 23, 2017 12:33 PM CDT
London Victim: Utah Man Celebrating 25th Anniversary
Kurt and Melissa Cochran   (GoFundMe)

Not much was initially revealed about the two civilians killed in Wednesday's terror attack in London, which also ended in the death of a British cop and the attacker being gunned down by police, but now there are a few details on at least one of the deceased: a Utah man celebrating his 25th wedding anniversary with his wife in the British capital. The Salt Lake Tribune identifies the man as 54-year-old Bountiful resident Kurt Cochran, who reportedly plummeted off the Westminster Bridge onto a concrete surface below when the attacker plowed his vehicle into pedestrians. Cochran's wife, Melissa Payne Cochran, is said to be one of the dozens of others who were injured, with a head cut and broken rib, though she's expected to be OK.

In a message on Facebook, Shantell Payne, whom the Tribune says is Cochran's sister-in-law, called the tragedy "heart wrenching and raw" and said it had "rocked our family." She also posted a link to a GoFundMe account to raise money to help Melissa Cochran—who the Tribune says ran a music and rehearsal studio with her husband—pay her bills while she's recuperating. The GoFundMe, which has so far raised more than $13,000 of a $50,000 goal, notes that the couple were spending their last day on a European tour visiting Melissa's parents, who are members of London's Mormon temple. President Trump called Cochran "a great American" in a Thursday morning tweet, sending "prayers and condolences" to the Utah man's loved ones. (The attacker has been identified.)

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