Friends, family remember deceased shooting victim, say 'his laugh was contagious'

19-year-old shooting victim Paul Lee.



SEATTLE – The university student killed in Thursday’s campus shooting has been identified as 19-year-old Paul Lee, officials announced.

To the public, he will be known as the deceased victim in the shooting that reverberated shock through the small, religious university. But to his friends, Lee will always be remembered as the kind, loving young man who was never seen without had a smile on his face.

And had some slick dance moves.

"His personality was very genuine, it was very honest," friend Grace Wan told Q13 FOX News. "He was the type of guy that whenever you were around him, you just couldn't help but laugh and smile."

Lee was finishing his first year at SPU after graduating from Westview High School in Beaverton, Oregon in 2013. He was a deeply involved Christian, who traveled last summer with Wan during a ministry trip to San Francisco. There, Wan said she came to know him as part of her "Ohana" -- a Hawaiian word for family.

"We were not only brothers and sisters in Christ," Wan said. "But (he was) really like my family, too."



Many others took to social media to celebrate the short life of their beloved friend. Friend Ethan Ngai posted on his Tumblr page in memory of Lee.

“I miss your smiles, your laughter, your shenanigans,” wrote Ngai. “I wouldn't be the same person without you.”

Ngai called Lee his teammate, friend and brother.

“Thank you for everything my lovable brother,” wrote Ngai.  “If there's one good thing out of this, I am so joyful that you are not alone anymore; you are much more than that—you are with the Lord and totally fulfilled in Him. You will be forever stamped in our hearts and memories. This isn't goodbye or farewell, it's see ya later. Love you Paul!!”

Police said Lee was shot on campus and rushed to Harborview where he died shortly after arriving.

Two other victims, a 19-year-old Sarah Williams and a 24-year-old Thomas Fowler, remain in the hospital.  Williams was upgraded from critical to serious condition Friday afternoon.  Harborview said she was conscious and breathing on her own.

Paul Lee's brother's girlfriend also remembered Lee for his "infectious smile, humor and giggle.

"I will miss our talks on our drive down to Portland always ending with 'don't tell my brother,'" she said. "Rest in paradise."



Even his brother spoke out.

"At a time when we feel a level of loss, grief, and pain we couldn't have ever imagined, we are so overwhelmed by all of the thoughts and prayers from the community," his brother said. "At this moment all we can ask is to continue to remember Paul and all that he has left behind for us. "

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray said Friday that Lee's parents were on their way to Seattle from Korea.