Father, son from Texas among France truck attack victims

USA officials have not confirmed American victims, but a family representative told NBC News that Sean Copeland and his 11-year-old son Brodie, were among the dead. The driver plowed through Bastille Day revelers who gathered to watch fireworks in Nice late Thursday in what some officials and eyewitnesses called a deliberate attack.

Sean Copeland, 51, and his 11-year-old son Brodie were among the more than 80 people killed Thursday when a truck zig-zagged through a screaming crowd for more than a mile along the Promenade des Anglais, according to a family representative. “My office is working closely with the Copeland family, along with federal and global officials, to swiftly bring surviving family members and the bodies of their loved ones home”.

“He and Brodie on the baseball field – that was Sean”, Clark recalled of the dynamic father-son team.

A photo of Brodie playing in French Riviera waters was posted on Facebook by his youth baseball league, Hill Country Baseball, which said it received it just hours before the attack.

Our thoughts and prayers are with this family, and every other family, friend, and loved one that is today dealing with the aftermath of an unspeakable, senseless tragedy. She said the family was from Lakeway, about 20 miles northwest of Austin.

“Not only do we need to stand with our ally France, we must all stand together and actively work on stopping terrorists in their tracks and preventing the spread of violence and extremism throughout the world”.

“He wanted to take his family there and be a part of something that most people don’t get to partake in”, said Mike Hughes, retired football coach of Plano West High School.

This is an extremely hard time for my family and anyone who knows Sean and Brodie Copeland. We express condolences to family and friends of those killed.

The Consulate of Morocco in Marseille told HuffPost Maghreb that at least two Moroccan citizens, a woman and a child, were killed in the attack.

The trip was partially in celebration of the July birthdays of Sean’s wife and his older son, said Davis, who said she has known the Copelands since 2009.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott named the two as Sean Copeland and his son Brodie. Lexmark spokesman Jerry Grasso said Copeland was “a terrific leader” and a phenomenal person. Clark has been a family friend of the Copelands since 2012 when Sean Copeland served as President of the Plano West Quarterback Club.

“You know how much we love you and Austin and Maegan”.

Austin Copeland is a Texas State University student.

A GoFundMe page set up for Sean and Brodie Copeland has raised more than $16,000. “Sean and Brodie touched our lives in so many ways. I’m truly sorry for your loss”. They remain in Nice.