California

Berkeley Student Missing After Nice Attack Confirmed Dead

Nicolas Leslie, 20, was confirmed dead by FBI officials

A UC Berkeley student missing in Nice, France, following Thursday's truck attack has been found dead.

Nicolas Leslie, 20, was confirmed dead by FBI officials, which were notified by counterparts in France early Sunday, Berkeley News reported.

"This is tragic, devastating news," UC Berkeley Chancellor Nicholas Dirks told Berkeley News. "All of us in the UC Berkeley family — both here on campus, and around the world — are heartbroken to learn that another promising young student has been lost to senseless violence. I join Nick’s parents, friends and the entire campus community in condemning this horrific attack, and in mourning the loss of one of our own."

Leslie, a native of Del Mar, in San Diego County, was one of 85 Berkeley students attending a summer study abroad program in the city of Nice when the attacker, identified as 31-year-old Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, drove a truck through crowds departing a fireworks celebration.

Friends told NBC Bay Area that Leslie avoided being hit by the truck but was separated from his group during the stampede and chaos that followed.

On Saturday, Leslie's father, Conrad, left his Southern California home and traveled to Nice in search of his son, NBC News reported. Leslie's uncle, Fabeo Bottini, had been scouring hospitals in the Nice area since the attack looking for Nicolas, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Claire Holmes, a spokeswoman for the program, said the campus is devastated.

"We have been mobilizing over the past few days, cooperating with officials on the ground to find Nick, and bring him home." Holmes said. "Unfortunately, the news was tragic today."

A vigil for Leslie is scheduled for Monday at 4:30 p.m at Sproul Plaza on the Berkeley campus.

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