Dads rage, weep for daughters
TWO FATHERS, two murdered daughters, two broken hearts.
A pair of Florida families remembered their lost teenage girls Friday at the first emotionfueled funerals for victims of the nation’s latest mass school shooting.
While Ilan Alhadeff encouraged mourners to join him in fighting to make U.S. schools safe from senseless violence, fellow dad Andrew Pollack vented his rage toward shooter Nikolas Cruz.
“You killed my kid!” he howled, looking down at the plain pine coffin holding his 18-yearold Meadow Jade Pollack. “‘My kid is dead’ goes through my head all day and night.
“I keep hearing it over and over again.”
Alhadeff, whose 14-year-old daughter Alyssa (above) was among the 17 victims in Wednesday’s premeditated attack, rued his inability to guard his child from a predator with an AR-15 rifle.
“I couldn’t protect you, but we are going to protect everyone going forward,” the doctor said, addressing his lost daughter directly. “We’ll do what we can. Alyssa, we love you so much.”
The overflow audience spilled outside the Star of David Funeral Home, where the murder victim’s parents spoke alongside a photo collage showing a beaming Alyssa with family and friends.
“There’s a knife stabbed in my heart,” said mom Lori Alhadeff, who one day earlier bellowed in anguish at President Trump to do something about the national plague of school shootings.
“I wish I could have taken those bullets for you, Alyssa,” the inconsolable parent continued. “I would’ve protected you.”
The funeral program paid tribute to the Queens-born victim, who died barely two months short of her 15th birthday. “In Loving Memory Alyssa Miriam Alhadeff” read the cover, with accompanied by a photo of the smiling teen.