An ethnic Armenian is reported dead in a major stage collapse in Indiana State, Tert.am reported.
Alina Bigjohny was the daughter of an Armenian immigrant. She had just turned 23, and her family was planning a belated birthday celebration for her Sunday. But instead the party turned into a prayer vigil, the Associated Press reported.
The 2011 Manchester College graduate was recently hired to teach seventh-grade English in Muncie, the Journal-Gazette reported.
"There was always a smile on that girl's face," Arturo Pena told the Journal-Gazette. "She was never angry or anything. Something bad happened, she shook it off. That's the kind of person she was."
Danielle Stoy said she and Bigjohny met their first day at Manchester and became best friends.
"She was funny, spontaneous. She was just amazing," Stoy said. "She always had a smile and she'd do anything for anybody. She loved her family like there was no tomorrow and they were her top priority."
Stoy said Bigjohny attended the concert with another friend, Jennifer Haskell, who was critically injured in the collapse.
She said Sugarland was one of their favorite bands.
"They knew every song," she said.
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