Remembering Rikki Olds, One Of Youngest Boulder Shooting Victims

LAFAYETTE, CO — The family of one of the youngest Boulder shooting victims has released a statement that shows how her death has impacted her family, friends and community.

Rikki Olds, 25, was working as a service manager at the King Soopers where a shooter opened fire Monday, killing 10 people, including an officer, police said.

But Olds' life won't be remembered by her last moments, her family said. She will instead be remembered for the impact she made each day in the lives of her loved ones and co-workers.

Olds was born on July 28, 1995, in Lafayette. She graduated in 2013 from Centaurus High School and attended classes at Front Range Community College in pursuit of a career in nursing, her family said.

Olds was hired by King Soopers in early 2016, where she spent the next five years moving up the ranks of the grocery store chain. She decided to change career paths and aspired to become a store manager, her family said.

Olds enjoyed hiking, golf, softball and spending time with friends.

Robert Olds, her uncle, released the following statement:

On behalf of the Olds family, we want to thank the community and Rikki’s friends and co-workers for the outpouring of support for our family. Today we are mourning the loss of our granddaughter, daughter, sister, niece, cousin, friend and colleague. Rikki Olds was truly one of a kind. She didn’t follow trends—she made them.

From the outside, you might notice her colorful hair, her bubbly personality, her laughter and a smile that lit up the room. For those of you lucky enough to call her friend, you knew she was a type of person who would always be there for you. She’d embrace you and give you confidence to be the person you want to be. She was a giver to others, and she gave herself to her career. She aspired to work up the ranks of King Soopers, and she strived to be the best manager she could be to her work family. In fact sometimes that even caused her guilt because she had to correct employees she considered friends and family. Whatever Rikki set her mind to do, she would do it. She had the tenacity and big dreams to make a great life for herself and to help others along the way.

No one can replace Rikki and the happiness she brought to our lives. Our family is suffering a great loss, and we will get through this together one day at a time. On behalf of our family, thank you for honoring Rikki’s legacy and the light she was in this world. Our hearts go out to the other victims’ families who are going through the same grief we are. We especially want to recognize Officer Eric Talley, who sacrificed his life and is a hero in our hearts. May we never forget their lives and the impact they made. Thank you.

The following victims have also been identified in the deadly shooting:

• Eric Talley, 51
• Denny Stong, 20
• Neven Staisic, 23
• Tralona Bartkowiak, 49
• Suzanne Fountain, 59
• Teri Leiker, 51
• Kevin Mahoney, 61
• Lynn Murray, 62
• Jody Waters, 65

Those who want to support victims and their families can make donations to the Colorado Healing Fund. The Community Foundation Boulder County has also announced a fund to support those impacted by the shooting.

The city of Boulder is offering free mental health support services to community members daily at the University of Colorado Boulder Events Center, 950 Regent Drive. People can also call the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990.

>> More information about how to make donations in support of victims can be found here.