Reading terror attack: Second victim was 39-year-old American man
Joe Ritchie-Bennett, 39, was originally from Philadelphia but had been living in the UK for 15 years.
Monday 22 June 2020 17:27, UK
The second victim of the Reading terror attack has been named as an American man who had been living in the UK for 15 years.
Joe Ritchie-Bennett, 39, was friends with James Furlong, 36, who was also among three people stabbed to death as they enjoyed the sunshine in Forbury Gardens on Saturday evening.
Mr Ritchie-Bennett was originally from Philadelphia, USA, but had been living in the UK for 15 years and worked for a pharmaceutical company in the Berkshire town.
His father Robert Ritchie told CBS News: "The family is heartbroken they have lost their brilliant and loving son. This was senseless."
In a separate interview to the Philadelphia Inquirer, his older brother, also called Robert, described him as a "great guy".
He said: "I love him. I always have. I always will. Our family is heartbroken and beside ourselves."
A friend of the pair, who had met up with both of them in the same park just two weeks ago, said they were both "great supporters" of the LGBT+ community.
Martin Cooper, chief executive of the charity Reading Pride said: "Their loss is a tragedy to so many people. They will be sorely missed by myself personally and many in the community."
He said it was a "very long night" waiting to find out what had happened to them, adding: "You go down this route of hoping that it's a mistake - that they have just lost their phones in the park in the chaos, or that they're just in hospital being treated. But sadly that wasn't the case."
Another friend wrote an emotional tribute to Mr Ritchie-Bennett on social media, saying he was a "wonderful and funny man".
She said they would "cry with laughter" when they worked together at a call centre in America and added: "I know that he was so loved by those who knew him. Absolutely awful news."
The 39-year-old lost his husband of eight years to colon cancer in 2014, according to local media.
US ambassador to the UK Woody Johnson also offered his sympathies to the Ritchie family.
He tweeted: "I offer my deepest condolences to the families of those killed in the attack on 20 June. To our great sorrow, this includes an American citizen.
"Our thoughts are with all those affected. We condemn the attack absolutely and have offered our assistance to British law enforcement."
Secondary school teacher Mr Furlong was the first victim to be named.
He taught history, government and politics at The Holt School in Wokingham, eight miles from where he was stabbed.
Pupils at the school had lessons cancelled today and held a minute's silence outside accompanied by their teachers.
Co-headteachers Anne Kennedy and Katie Pearce described him as "wonderfully talented", "inspirational" and a "kind and gentle man".
They said: "As a whole community, we all now need to absorb this sad news. Words cannot describe our shock and sadness at this time."
Pupils and staff are being supported by counsellors and are being invited to light a candle in his memory at a nearby church, they added.
His parents Gary and Janet said he was "beautiful" and "intelligent", adding: "He was the best son, brother, uncle and partner you could wish for. We are thankful for the memories he gave us all. We will never forget him and he will live in our hearts forever."
The suspect - believed to be 25-year-old Khairi Saadallah - is in custody after being detained on suspicion of murder and re-arrested under the Terrorism Act.
A minute's silence was also held in Reading town centre this morning to remember the victims of the tragedy, which Prime Minister Boris Johnson described as "appalling and sickening".