Unspeakable Loss In Florida Shooting

Jessica Ilgner, Staff Writer|February 27, 2018

Alyssa Alhadeff, 14. She loved to play soccer for Parkland Travel Soccer. Scott Beigel, 35. He was a geography teacher at the school. He died trying to lock the door to his classroom to keep students safe. Martin Duque Anguiano, 14. Miguel Duque, his older brother, misses him tremendously. Nicholas Dworet, 17. He was recruited for the University of Indianapolis swim team and would have been an incoming freshman this fall. Aaron Feis, 37. He was an assistant football coach. He threw himself in front of students under gunfire, and died saving them. Jaime Guttenberg, 14. Her father, Fred Guttenberg, mourns alongside his son, Jesse. He has lost a daughter, and his son has lost a sister. Chris Hixon, 49. He was a husband, a father, and a veteran. He was the school’s athletic director, as well as the wrestling coach. He was very passionate about working with and helping students at the school. Luke Hoyer, 15. His family described him as someone who was always smiling and laughing; an amazing individual. Cara Loughran, 14. Cara danced at the Drake School of Irish Dance in South Florida. Gina Montalto, 14. Gina was a member of the winter guard on the school’s marching band, volunteered with special needs kids, and was a gifted artist. Joaquin Oliver, 17. He moved to America from Venezuela when he was three. He loved spending time with his friends and girlfriend, and listening to hip hop. Alaina Petty, 14. She had volunteered after Hurricane Irma hit Florida in September. She was also a part of the “Helping Hands” program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her family described her as vibrant and determined. Meadow Pollack, 18. Meadow was accepted at Lynn University in Boca Raton, and her family was very proud of her. Helena Ramsay, 17. She was very academically driven and her family described her as warm and open to everyone around her. Alex Schachter, 14. Alex participated in the school marching band and orchestra, playing baritone in the former and trombone in the latter. His family was saving money for a scholarship fund. Carmen Schentrup, 16. Carmen was a National Merit Scholar semifinalist. Peter Wang, 15. Peter had been a member of the junior ROTC program, and his parents owned a restaurant in West Palm Beach. He was holding the door open for students to escape when he was shot.

Valentine’s day of 2018 brought horrific pain and loss to the families, friends, and acquaintances of these seventeen individuals who were murdered at Majory Stoneman Douglas High School. It is yet another incident of a mass shooting that leaves devastation, confusion and horror in its wake.

Gus Fine (11) expresses his grief for the victims.

“It is an eye opener. We go to school everyday, and it directly affects us”. Fine suggests action to be taken. “[We need to] put more effort into stopping it. We simply don’t give it enough attention”.

Andrew Brewer, a senior at Lenoir City High School is affected deeply by the tragedy.

“The shooting makes me disappointed in modern day society. It’s scary to see these things regularly now. We, as a country, need to cut down on mental health issues”.

This horrible event is much more than statistics or a body count. It is seventeen unique, individual people who are ripped from the world with no explanation as to why. It is easy to become numb and after reading in the news about events like this every week. However, it is imperative to fight against the numbness and insensitivity. To become desensitized to murder is dangerous. Remember the people who have passed away; mourn for the futures they will never have. They simply went to school that day, and now their families and friends are left to mourn and grieve.

If you would like to help to the victims, please visit the link below to donate.

https://publicgood.com/media/cnn/campaign/help-parkland-school-shooting-victims?location=&title=How%20to%20help%20victims%20of%20the%20Florida%20school%20shooting&utm_campaign=Do-Public-Good&utm_content=https:%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2018%2F02%2F15%2Fworld%2Fiyw-florida-school-shooting-how-to-help%2Findex.html&utm_medium=button&utm_source=cnn

Victims are shown below in reverse alphabetical order.