For 3 killed in California attack, US was refuge from fear

Each found jobs with the San Bernardino County health department, inspecting restaurants, hotels and bars and ensuring they were safe for the public.

In a cruel twist, all three were killed in the nation's deadliest mass shooting since the slaughter of 26 children and adults at a school in Newtown, Connecticut, three years ago.

The victims hailed from nearly every region of the world and all walks of life — newly minted graduates, young parents and seasoned workers on the verge of retirement.

The co-worker who stormed the group's holiday luncheon and opened fire with his wife had seemed to be just another part of that diverse assemblage:

Each day, the team inspected an array of pizza shops, gas station convenience stores and hotel pools across San Bernardino County 50 miles east of Los Angeles, a place that was hit hard by the recession and whose welcoming sign reads, "Seize the Advantage."

Amanios excelled in school and was one of the few students to pass the university entrance exam, said Gebreselassie, who was raised with Amanios like a brother.

Amanios grudgingly agreed, settling into life in suburban Los Angeles with his wife and three children and easily passing the health inspector certification exam.

At the health department, she was responsible for inspecting restaurants and businesses before they opened, a job relatives said she loved.