In a heartbreaking tragedy during the LA wildfires, 67-year-old Anthony Mitchell and his disabled son Justin lost their lives as they tried to escape the flames. Mitchell, an amputee and wheelchair-bound, stayed behind to wait for an ambulance for his son, who had cerebral palsy.
A 67-year-old amputee father and his disabled son tragically lost their lives in the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, after the father stayed behind to wait for an ambulance for his son, who suffered from cerebral palsy. Anthony Mitchell was found alongside his son, Justin, in Altadena, California, after attempting to protect them both from the advancing flames.
“That was pretty much a gutshot to see that.” A man who evacuated from his home on Tuesday night during the Los Angeles wildfires broke down in tears when he returned to his neighborhood on Wednesday, and saw the homes in his neighborhood completely destroyed. pic.twitter.com/NXFiOmwc18
— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 8, 2025
According to Mitchell’s daughter, Hajime White, the last conversation she had with her father was on Wednesday morning. He called to tell her that he and Justin were evacuating, but as the fires neared their home, he said, “I’ve got to go — the fire’s in the yard.” It would be the last time White heard his voice.
White described her father as a dedicated family man who had served as a retired salesman and was an amputee reliant on a wheelchair. He was deeply loved by his four children, 11 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. She said, “He was not going to leave his son behind, no matter what,” adding that the loss felt like a heavy weight on her heart.
This heartbreaking incident occurred as the death toll from the fires in Los Angeles rose to 10, with officials indicating that the true scale of the destruction would take time to uncover. Late Thursday, the LA medical examiner’s office confirmed it was investigating 10 fire-related deaths but had not yet identified the victims or their locations.
The search for victims continues, with fire crews battling multiple blazes across the area. Investigators are facing significant challenges in accessing the bodies and identifying victims, with the use of DNA and dental records becoming necessary in the absence of more traditional means, like fingerprints.
🚨🚨🚨🚨 #RIP — #EatonFire victim, 66-year-old Victor Shaw, was found dead with a garden hose still in his hand as he defended his family's longtime home. 🙏🕊🙏🕊
Heartbreaking 💔😞💔😞💔
🚒🧑🚒🚒🧑🚒 #Fire #Fires #Wildfire #Wildfires #SoCal #LA #LosAngeles #Cali #California… pic.twitter.com/ysOdbY8Kd0
— LeanneSpurs 🇬🇧 (@LeanneSpurs) January 10, 2025
Among the other victims identified were 66-year-old Victor Shaw, who tragically perished in the Eaton Fire after deciding to stay behind despite pleas from his sister to evacuate, and 82-year-old Rodney Nickerson, who died in his Altadena home after choosing to remain rather than flee the fire.
As searches continue, many residents, including Dalyce Kelley, have taken to social media to seek information about missing loved ones, with family members unable to locate relatives whose homes were destroyed.
Sheriff Robert Luna of Los Angeles County has warned that the death toll could rise further, as dangerous conditions persist in the area. He urged patience from the public as officials work to complete the difficult task of accurately counting the victims.
In the wake of the tragedy, several A-list celebrities, including Paris Hilton, Anthony Hopkins, Tina Knowles, and others, have revealed that they too lost their homes in the fires, highlighting the widespread impact of the disaster.
With more than 34,000 acres burned and multiple fires still raging, the LA wildfires have already been deemed some of the most destructive in the city’s history. The Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire have consumed vast swathes of land, devastating communities in their path.
