Tara Welch Gallagher, a 39-year-old female, was an engineer for the City of Virginia Beach. Her life was tragically cut short on May 31, 2019, when she became one of the 12 victims of a mass shooting at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center.
Gallagher was a dedicated public servant who had been employed with the city for six years. She was a devoted mother to her young son and a loving wife.
Her life outside of her profession was centered around her family, with whom she was fixing up a home.
On that fateful afternoon, a disgruntled city employee opened fire within Building 2 of the municipal complex. Gallagher was in the building, finishing her workday, when the gunman began his attack. The shooter, who had resigned earlier that day, moved through the building, indiscriminately firing at his colleagues.
The attack sparked a massive police response. The gunman was ultimately confronted by law enforcement and was killed in a gun battle. In the aftermath, the community was left to mourn the senseless loss of 12 lives, including Tara Welch Gallagher's. Her death, and the deaths of the other victims, prompted widespread grief and discussions about workplace safety and gun violence.
