Menasha shooting victim awake and conscious

Erin Stoffel is awake and conscious.

The 32-year-old mother of three was shot three times Sunday on the Trestle Trail bridge in Menasha. She managed to get her two youngest children off the bridge after her husband, 33-year-old Jonathan Stoffel, and oldest daughter, 11-year-old Olivia Stoffel, were shot and killed.

Erin had a breathing tube in her throat until today and was unable to speak. She has been able to write to communicate with her family, said Julia Stoffel, Jonathan's sister-in-law.

"I was actually with Erin last night and ... on the dry erase board she wrote out 'Last words' and then she wrote out 'Jon said, 'Forgive the shooter,''" Julia said.

Erin's breathing tube was removed and she is breathing on her own, Julia said. Her condition was upgraded from critical to serious this afternoon, said Megan Mulholland, spokesperson for ThedaCare.

Faith is helping the family grieve in the midst of overwhelming loss, Julia said.

"The family has a lot of faith in the Lord and we're just leaning on that," she said. "We know that Jon and Olivia are with the Lord. We are holding strong to the Bible first."

Julia quoted Romans 8:28 which says " For we know that all things work together for the good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose."

"We really believe that this (tragedy) somehow will be used for good. We're just grieving."

Post-Crescent Media continues to develop the story in the aftermath of Sunday's deadly shooting on the Fox Cities Trestle Trail bridge in Menasha. We'll continue to update as the day goes on.

Here's what we know right now.

On the attack:

Sergio Valencia del Toro and his fiancée called off their wedding recently, Menasha Police Chief Tim Styka said.

The couple discussed their relationship issues on Sunday.

They argued and Valencia del Toro was distraught afterward.

The 27-year-old left the Menasha residence while his fiancée was out. He was wearing camouflage and had two handguns in his possession.

Valencia del Toro rode a bike to the Trestle Trail bridge and opened fire at about 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

He did not target anyone specifically, and did not talk to the people before he attacked.

Dead in the attack are 11-year-old Olivia Stoffel, her 33-year-old father Jonathan Stoffel and 31-year-old Adam Bentdahl.

Erin Stoffel, 32, survived the shooting. She sustained gunshot wounds to her abdomen, thigh and hand. She is Jonathan's wife and Olivia's mother.

Erin Stoffel helped her two youngest children — 7-year-old Ezra and 5-year-old Selah — make it off the bridge during the attack.

Valencia del Toro shot himself in the head. Police say he acted alone. There were no other gunmen.

The Trestle Trail opened to the public at 3 p.m. on Tuesday.

About the Stoffels:

Erin Stoffel underwent surgery at Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah.

The Stoffel children attend Fox Valley Christian Academy in Neenah. The school closed Monday, and held a prayer service for the family.

Erin Stoffel works part-time at the front desk of the Neenah-Menasha YMCA. Executive Director Scott Schanhofer said the Y held two prayer services for the family on Monday.

The GoFundMe page has raised more than $100,000 for the family since Monday.

Calvary Bible Church in Neenah ha also established memorial funds for the family. Donations can be made online. Checks made out to Calvary Bible Church with "Stoffel offering" written in the Memo field can also be dropped off or mailed to the church: Calvary Bible Church, P.O. Box 799, Neenah, WI 54957.

People can also make donations at any Community First Credit Union Branch or via mail at Community First Credit Union, P.O. Box 1487, Appleton, WI 54912-1487.

​About Adam Bentdahl:

The 31-year-old Appleton man liked to go for walks on the Trestle Trail, police said.

He worked at Apollon Restaurant. "Adam was an employee at the Apollon for many years and thus he was considered family," the restaurant said on its Facebook page Monday night. "He will certainly be missed."

A GoFundMe page has raised more than $4,000 in Bentdahl's memory since Monday night.

About Valencia del Toro:

The 27-year-old lived in Menasha.

He served in the Air Force and had enlisted in the Army, police said.

He legally owned the two guns used in the attack — a Canik semi-automatic 9 mm pistol and a Taurus Judge .410 revolver.

About remembrance opportunities:

Community members are invited to place memorials on the Trestle Trail bridge as long as they are placed under the covered pavilion and do not block the trail, city officials said. There are no restrictions on what can be left there. Wire or plastic zip ties may be used to secure items so they do not blow off the bridge. Officials ask people not to use nails, staples or tape. Memorials in places that create safety hazards will be moved to a safer spot. Memorials will be left in place for approximately two weeks.

A group of people has established a public Facebook page called Hands Over the Fox. According to posts, they are in the process of organizing a community event in honor of the victims.

A memorial walk is being planned for May 16 from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. See the Facebook event here.

A Facebook page called Fox Cities United also has information about efforts to honor the victims.

— Jen Zettel: 920-993-1000, ext. 539, or jzettel@postcrescent.com; on Twitter @jenzettel