LAUGHING AND TWIRLING FOR THE CAMERA, THE YOUNG LIVES CRUELLY CUT SHORT IN HIGH SCHOOL MASSACRE
TWIRLING in a new dress, laughing on holiday, and showing off academic achievements – these are the young girls shot down in the Florida massacre.
Details were beginning to emerge last night of the 17 victims of the Valentine’s Day shooting, which included at least seven teenage girls.
Families and friends posted heartbreaking messages online about the students and teachers who were killed in school corridors.
Jaime Guttenberg, 17, the first to be confirmed dead, was described as ‘kind-hearted’ and ‘sweet’ by her devastated family.
A frantic appeal to find her had been posted on Facebook, only to be removed. Her parents, Fred and Jennifer Guttenberg, learned she had died while her brother, Jesse, made it home safely.
Mr Guttenberg’s Facebook page was last night flooded with condolences and tributes while his daughter’s page was turned into a memorial site.
Her father posted a statement, saying: ‘My heart is broken. Yesterday, Jennifer and I lost our baby girl to a violent shooting at her school.
‘We lost our daughter and my son lost his sister. I am broken as I write this trying to figure out how my family gets through this.’
Her cousin Alexa Saka also paid tribute, describing her as ‘the most beautiful, kind-hearted, driven, funny and sweet girl.’
She added: ‘You went out of your way to make everyone feel good and that smile... that smile lit up every single room you walked into.’ Alyssa Al Hadeff, 15, was reported dead by her mother, who told a US TV channel she was ‘a very popular, very beautiful girl.’
She said: ‘My daughter Alyssa was killed today by a horrific act of violence. I just sent her to school and she was shot and killed.
‘Alyssa was a talented soccer player, so smart, an amazing personality, incredible creative writer, and all she had to offer the
world was love. She believed in people for being so honest.
‘A knife is stabbed in my heart. I wish I could have taken those bullets for you. I will always love you and your memory will live on forever.’
Gina Montalto, 14, was also reported to be a victim. Manuel Miranda, a former teacher, told the Miami Herald newspaper: ‘She was the sweetest soul ever. She was kind, caring, always smiling and wanting to help.’
Meadow Pollack, thought to be 18, was also a victim, according to the Miami Herald.
The death of Alaina Petty, 14, was apparently confirmed by a statement issued by a church leader. Her great aunt reportedly posted on Facebook: ‘There are no hashtags for moments like this, only sadness.’ Meanwhile Nicholas Dworet, 17, and Martin Duque, a 14-year-old student, were among the first boys reported dead.
Mr Dworet’s swimming coach said he had died in the massacre, with friends describing him as a ‘fine young man’.
TS Aquatics said in an online post: ‘He was not only a good swimmer but a good person. A happy young man who embodied the values of our program. Nick, you have touched every member of the team one way or another and will be missed.’
It emerged last night that Mr Dworet had hopes of attending the 2020 Olympics to represent his country in swimming.
Mr Duque was also reported to be dead after his brother, Miguel, posted on Instagram: ‘Words cannot describe my pain... I love you brother Martin you’ll be missed buddy.’ Also confirmed dead were Joaquin
Oliver, 17, Luke Hoyer, 15, Peter Wang, 15, Cara Loughran, Carmen Schentrup, and Alex Schachter. It also emerged last night
‘My heart is broken’
that three heroic teachers were shot and killed while trying to protect their students.
Football coach Aaron Feis, 37, was said to have been shielding pupils when he was gunned down.
He had been taken to hospital in a critical condition but later died of his injuries.
The school’s football team announced on Twitter: ‘It is with great sadness that our football family has learned about the death of Aaron Feis.
‘He was our assistant football coach and security guard. He selflessly shielded students from the shooter when he was shot. He died a hero and he will forever be in our hearts and memories.’
Willis May, the team’s head coach, said Mr Feis had responded to a call about the shooting on the school’s security radio.
Mr May said he rushed to pupils’ aid after someone reported hearing loud bangs and asked if they were firecrackers.
He told the Sun Sentinel newspaper: ‘I heard Aaron say, “No, that is not firecrackers.” That’s the last I heard of him.’ He added that Mr Feis, a former student at the school who had taught there for eight years, was an ‘excellent family man’ and a ‘big ol’ teddy bear’. He said a student had told him the coach and security guard jumped between her and the gunman to push her through a door and out of danger.
School spokesman Denise Lehtio said: ‘He died the same way he lived – he put himself second. He was a very kind soul, a very nice man. He died a hero.’
Geography teacher Scott Beigel, 35, was said to have been shot dead as he tried to lock the door to his classroom after letting a group of fleeing students in to hide.
Student Kelsey Friend, one of a number of girls who took refuge behind Mr Beigel’s desk as the gunman stalked the hallways, said: ‘I am alive today because of him.’
She told CNN: ‘He unlocked the door and let us in. I thought he was behind me but he wasn’t.’
Athletics director Chris Hixon, 49, was also said to have been killed trying to protect pupils.
In a statement his church said: ‘Chris was the football coach and athletic director at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who died a true hero, shielding students from gunfire.’ Friends told how he toured Iraq as a US naval reservist, describing him as ‘probably the nicest guy I have ever met’.
Friend Dan Jacob told local reporters: ‘He does so much. That is terrible that it would happen to anybody. It is so senseless. I am totally crushed.’ The identities of another two victims of the Valentine’s Day shooting have not yet been revealed.