A LONG WAY FROM HOME
She was a food fan, eager for culinary discoveries. In her last blog update the morning before the Boston Marathon blasts, the Chinese graduate student identified as the attack's third victim posted a photo of bread chunks and fruit. "My wonderful breakfast," Boston University statistics student Lu Lingzi wrote. In her early 20s, she often shared photos of her home-prepared meals online - a blueberry-covered waffle one day, spinach sachettini with zucchini on another. In September, she showed off her first two-dish meal - stir-fried broccoli and scrambled eggs with tomatoes, often cooked by Chinese students learning how to live on their own abroad. Chinese officials have said one of their nationals was killed in the attack, but authorities in China and the U.S. have not released a name, in accordance with the wishes of the victim's parents. However, state media and long-time acquaintances identified the victim as Lu Lingzi from the northeastern city of Shenyang. THE RICHARDS: A FAMILY INJURED, IN MOURNING
Neighbors and friends remembered 8-year-old bombing victim Martin Richard as a vivacious boy who loved to run, climb and play sports like soccer, basketball and baseball.
The boy's father, Bill Richard, released a statement thanking family, friends and strangers for their support following his son's death Monday. Richard's wife, Denise, and the couple's 6-year-old daughter, Jane, also suffered significant injuries in the blasts.
The family was watching Monday's race and had gone to get ice cream before returning to the area near the finish line before the blasts.
Denise Richard works as a librarian at the Neighborhood House Charter School, where Martin was a third-grader and Jane attends first grade. Counselors were being made available to staff and students.
"I just can't get a handle on it," family friend Jack Cunningham said of the boy's death. "In an instant, life changes."
KRYSTLE CAMPBELL: CHEERING ON FRIENDS
Krystle Campbell was a 29-year-old restaurant manager from Medford. Her father, 56-year-old William Campbell, described her as "just a very caring, very loving person, and was daddy's little girl."
Campbell had gone to the race with her best friend Karen, whose boyfriend was running in the race, her father said.
"They wanted to take a photograph of him crossing the finish line, but the explosion went off and they were right there," he said. "It's pretty devastating.
The friend suffered a severe leg injury.
"She's very badly hurt, she's all messed up," he said. "Her leg was all destroyed."
JEFF BAUMAN JR.: LOST BOTH LEGS
Jeff Bauman Jr., a man pictured in an Associated Press photo from immediately after the blast, lost both his legs as cheered his girlfriend on in the race. He survived the trauma after people rushed him away from the explosion site in a wheelchair.
Rescuers took the 27-year-old victim to Boston Medical Center, but doctors had to amputate his legs because of extensive vascular and bone damage, a Facebook post from his father said Tuesday.
"Unfortunately my son was just in the wrong place at the wrong time," the elder Jeff Bauman wrote.
The son also had to have more surgery later because of fluid in his abdomen. His condition improved later.
"I just can't explain what's wrong with people today to do this to people," the father wrote. "I'm really starting to lose faith in our country."
BRITTANY LORING: AN AMBITIOUS STUDENT
Brittany Loring was spending Monday, her 29th birthday, cheering on her friend in the Boston Marathon. A day later, she lay in critical condition with injuries to her head, leg and fingers.
"We've had so many calls. Everybody's just upset over it," grandmother Philomena Loring told the Lowell Sun. "I put her on the prayer line at my church."
Loring is simultaneously pursuing degrees in law and business administration at Boston College. She's also a runner, finished 80th in the Boston College MBA 5K on April 6.
CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS FROM THE SCENE OF THE BOSTON MARATHON EXPLOSIONS
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