Latter-day Saint Life

Funeral Announced for LDS Teen Killed in Florida Shooting

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The Petty family announced that the funeral for their daughter, Alaina Petty—who was killed in the Parkland shooting Wednesday—will be held Monday, February 19 at 11 a.m. at the Coral Springs Chapel (10148 NW 31st Street, Coral Springs, Florida).

Following Alaina's death, the family testified of their faithin a statement, saying, "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. We are grateful for the knowledge that Alaina is a part of our eternal family and that we will reunite with her. This knowledge and unabiding faith in our Heavenly Father's plan gives us comfort during this difficult time."

Alaina was described by her family as "a vibrant girl who loved to serve," one who served with the Mormon Helping Hands following Hurricane Irma. Alaina also loved participating in her school's JROTC program.

Despite the heartbreak they have experienced losing a daughter and sister, the Petty family expressed their gratitude for the outpouring of love they have experienced: "Over the past 24 hours, our family has been touched by hundreds of acts of service. Words cannot convey the gratitude we have in our hearts for each of those acts."

Another Latter-day Saint, 17-year-old junior Madeleine Wilford, was injured during the attack. 

Her mom, Missy Cantrell Wilford, posted on Facebook, updating her status:

"Madeleine made it through her second surgery, she incurred multiple gunshot wounds with an AR-15 assault rifle. The surgeons didn’t know how many exactly, but she is alive which is a miracle. As the surgeons said, it only takes one. She had one that went through her back, crushing her ribs , piercing through her right lung and exiting through her stomach. Several went through the shoulder and traveled the length of her right arm before exiting. She lost so much blood, but she is stable and in ICU. She will undergo a third surgery tomorrow to put in permanent titanium plates to hold her ribs together. Even after all of that, the bullets missed her liver, reproduction organs, heart, she could have been paralyzed. It is a miracle. Please keep the prayers coming for all the families, especially for one of the youth from church that still hasn’t been found as of yet. Her name is Alaina. The doctors seem positive that Madeleine is young and strong and will recover over time. She is on a ventilator since she has one lung and the ribs are crushing the other. God give me strength that I do not possess on my own."

To help donate to the families, visit Alaina Pettyand Maddy Wilford on Go Fund Me.

Image courtesy of Petty family
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