Sean and 11-year-old Brodie Copeland, a father and son from Lakeway, Texas, were among those killed during the Thursday, July 14, terror attack in Nice, France, that left at least 84 people dead.
As previously reported, the attacker — who French media have identified as 31-year-old French-Tunisian Nice resident Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel — drove a truck through a crowd of people during a Bastille Day celebration on the Promenade des Anglais. Thousands, including Sean and his young son, were gathered to watch fireworks and listen to live music. They were vacationing in the South of France with their family.
“We are heartbroken and in shock over the loss of Brodie Copeland, an amazing son and brother who lit up our lives, and Sean Copeland, a wonderful husband and father,” the family said in a statement distributed by friend Jess Davis. “They are so loved.”
“This is a very difficult time for our family,” Sean’s brother, Troy Copeland, told NBC News on Friday, July 15.
According to a memorial page, Sean graduated from the University of North Texas in Denton and worked for Lexmark Corporation as the vice president of North and South America for the company’s Kapow Software Division.
Brodie, who played baseball for Dripping Spring, Texas’ Hill Country Baseball league, was remembered by his coaches and teammates in a touching Facebook post.
“This afternoon our very own Brodie Copeland, as well as his father Sean Copeland, were killed during the terrorist attack in Nice, France,” the post read. “Nobody deserves this type of fate, especially not such a wonderful family. You are in our hearts, thoughts, and prayers. Rest in peace, Brodie and Sean; you will be remembered by many.”
Family member Haley Copeland also took to Facebook to pay tribute to Sean and Brodie on Thursday.
“They were on vacation with my two other cousins and aunt celebrating a birthday,” she wrote. “This is an extremely difficult time for my family and anyone who knows Sean and Brodie Copeland. Losing a loved one is hard no matter the circumstances but losing a loved one in such a tragic and unexpected way is unbearable.”
Sean and Brodie are survived by wife and mother Kimberly.
