Florida school shooting: 2 more slain teenagers mourned at funerals today
— -- Two more South Florida teenagers were mourned at funerals today less than a week after being gunned down at their high school.
Luke Hoyer and Alaina Petty were among the 17 people who died in the Valentine's Day rampage at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The suspect, a former student, was arrested and has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder. The school remains closed.
The funerals for the slain students and staff started Friday.
Services for 15-year-old Luke and 14-year-old Alaina took place this morning.
Alaina was "a vibrant and determined young woman" who "loved to serve," her family said in a statement, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Alaina participated in the high school Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program and volunteered for a program with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the family said, according to the newspaper.
Alaina helped rebuild areas of Florida after the state was hit by Hurricane Irma in September, the family said, adding, "Her selfless service brought peace and joy to those that had lost everything during the storm."
"While we will not have the opportunity to watch her grow up and become the amazing woman we know she would become, we are keeping an eternal perspective," the family said, according to the newspaper. "We are grateful for the knowledge that Alaina is a part of our eternal family and that we will reunite with her."
Luke's aunt, Joan Cox, told People Magazine that she and Luke's mother would talk about Luke's future.
"He didn’t know what he wanted to do yet," she said. "He was just a freshman and was looking forward to high school.”
Luke was close to his mother, Cox said.
"It was just the two of them all of the time,” she told People. “He was momma’s boy and he loved his family so much."
“He was always smiling and very laid back,” Cox added. “He never caused any trouble. He was just a good boy and had a great life.”
The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting and aftermath
Photos from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting and aftermath.
There is also a visitation today for 14-year-old victim Gina Montalto and a viewing today for 16-year-old victim Carmen Schentrup.
Gina "was a smart, loving, caring, and strong girl who brightened any room she entered," her mother, Jennifer Montalto, said in a Facebook post last week. "She will be missed by our family for all eternity."
Carmen "was dedicated and accomplished" and "was going to change the world," her parents said in a statement according to a post on her brother's Facebook.
"She was quite literally a 'straight A”' student and a National Merit Finalist (Carmen never knew this. Her award letter arrived the day after she died)," the statement said. "Earlier this month, she was accepted into the University of Florida Honors program and was exuberant to begin her college experience. She wanted to become a medical scientist and discover a cure for horrible diseases, like ALS.”
