More than 100 people gathered today to mourn the victim of a fatal car crash involving ex-Raiders player Henry Ruggs III.
Tina Tintor, 23, was memorialized by family and friends at an hourlong funeral service today at St. Simeon Serbian Orthodox Church in Las Vegas. A graveside service for loved ones was later conducted at Palm Eastern Cemetery.
“I never knew Tina; I didn’t know anything about her until the events, and it just stuck with me all week,” said Bob Kendzior of Henderson, who attended the service.
“I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to donate; I wanted to send condolences; I wanted to send flowers. Nothing seemed right. I remember when I’ve lost loved ones, and the most important thing for me was people who showed up,” Kendzior said.
Space in the church was limited, and many attendees observed from the foyer. Most of the service was in Serbian, including two hymns included on the service pamphlet.
After the funeral, Tintor’s white casket was carried to a hearse about 12:30 p.m., accompanied by a priest. Another man spread incense over the casket, while people leaving the church held back tears.
Born April 8, 1998, Tintor moved to the Las Vegas valley with her family when she was young, those close to her have said. She graduated from Durango High School in 2016 and worked at a Target store before deciding to pursue a career in computer programming.
“Every time I look back and think about her, I just see her smile and I miss the times we would laugh,” Ryder Hankins, a former coworker, said at a vigil Friday.
Prosecutors allege Ruggs, 22, was driving 156 mph before he rear-ended Tintor’s SUV about 3:40 a.m. Nov. 2. The SUV caught fire, trapping Tintor inside, authorities said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ruggs, 22, and his girlfriend, Kiara Je’nai Kilgo-Washington, 22, were injured in the crash.
Ruggs was charged with two counts of DUI resulting in death or substantial bodily harm, two counts of reckless driving and one count of possession of a firearm while under the influence. He had a blood-alcohol content of .161%, twice the legal limit to drive in Nevada, prosecutors said.
If convicted, he could face up to 52 years in prison, prosecutors said. Ruggs, who was cut from the Raiders after his arrest, was released from jail on $150,000 bond.
A GoFundMe campaign started by Tintor’s family to cover funeral expenses has raised more than $102,000.
“Our family is so grateful for the outpouring of love and support we have received,” the family wrote on the fundraiser page. “Those who knew Tina know that she was a beautiful loving soul that always put everyone before herself.”
“Whether she knew you or not, Tina was the type of person that would give you the food off of her plate to make sure you weren’t hungry,” the family said. “Tina was the shoulder to cry on, the ear that made you felt heard, and the friendly smile you needed when you made a bad joke.”