A mural is painted on a Paris street in the wake of attacks in the city Friday night that left at least 127 dead.(Photo: MARTIN BUREAU, AFP/Getty Images)
The U.S. government urged Americans in Paris<span style="color: Red;">*</span>to maintain "a high level vigilance" in the wake of terror attacks Paris Friday night, even as news surfaced Saturday 20-year-old California woman was killed. The attacks left at<span style="color: Red;">*</span>129 dead and 352 with wounds or injuries. .
Nohemi Gonzalez of El Monte was killed in the attacks, according to statement from California State University, Long Beach. Gonzalez was an exchange student attending a design school in Paris.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Saturday that U.S.officials are aware of Americans injured in the attacks, but had no further details. ..
"It's just so scary," said Meg Gagnard, 25, a Denver resident who is among those Americans in the French capital when the attacks occurred. "Paris is small so it felt like no matter where you are you were close to one of the series of shootings."
Americans were encouraged to<span style="color: Red;">*</span><span style="color: Red;">*</span>"bolster their personal security" and limited movements to "essential activity," in the State Department advisory. U.S. citizens were advised about the steps France has taken in the wake of coordinated attacks: declaring a state of emergency and controlling border access. The State Department urged Americans to let their loved ones know their circumstances.
It's unclear how many Americans are in the city.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Typical was the case of Washington, D.C. resident<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Sam Nitz, 34, a Wisconsin native on vacation and visiting<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Paris for the first time. He was strolling the streets of the city with friends Friday night when saw police cars racing and then learned of the attacks. He notified family and friends through Facebook and Saturday, contemplated altered plans.
With key cultural sites closed in the wake of the violence, he set out to enjoy merely walking through the city. "My mood is good, but cautious ...<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Many things that are great about Paris are open -- shops, parks, cafes," Nitz, a targeting and analytics director at EMILY's List,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>said in an e-mail. "People are out about."<span style="color: Red;">*</span>.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>.
The State Department cautioned Americans that airports and train stations remain open, but delays can be expected.
"I am saddened by these attacks and fear more may come in the future," Nicole Pizzorni, an Italian-American student at the American University in Paris, told USA TODAY. "We need to hope for better things to come."
The State Department urged those concerned about a U.S. citizen in Paris to call 1-888-407-4747 in the U.S. or 202-501-4444 overseas for assistance.
Contributing: Aida Alami in Paris, special to USA TODAY<span style="color: Red;">*</span><span style="color: Red;">*</span>
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