Three marines from Southern California were among those killed in a suicide bomber attack at the Kabul Airport on Thursday. In total, 13 service members were killed in the attack along with 100 Afghans.
Kareem Nikoui from Norco and Marine Corporal Hunter Lopez from the Coachella Valley were reportedly those identified among the casualties. The Pentagon has not yet released official identities. Nikoui’s father says Marines arrived at his house to notify him of the attack.
Lopez was the son of Riverside Sheriff Captain Herman Lopez and Deputy Alicia Lopez. He served in the Riverside County Sheriff Department as an explorer from 2014 to 2017. He had plans to follow in his parents footsteps and become a deputy with the department. Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco released a statement offering his condolences.
A third marine was identified as Marine Corporal Dylan Merola from Rancho Cucamonga.
