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\"I would ask everyone to please pray for the family and pray for the officer that was involved in this incident,\" Acting Police Chief Jill Schlude said during a press conference Friday. \"It was extremely tragic, and a lot of people need prayers tonight.\"

Gabriella was described as a \"bubble of sunshine\" who \"loved everyone and gave the great high fives or biggest hugs\" by Tammy Crabtree, a bus monitor at the school, The Wichita Eagle reported.

\"PHOTO:
KMIZ
PHOTO: Police tape marks the scene where a 4-year-old girl was struck and killed by a vehicle driven by a Columbia Police officer at Muriel Williams Battle High School in Columbia, Mo., Jan. 4, 2018.
>

Heese, who has been with the department for five years and is assigned to the community outreach unit, has been placed on administrative leave, police said.

Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating the accident, police said.

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