One Mormon teen died and another is hospitalized following the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on Wednesday.
According to the Associated Press, a former student opened fire and killed at least 17 people.
Fourteen-year-old Alaina Petty was confirmed dead at 1 a.m. Thursday, according to an email sent to local church leaders by Area Seventy Stephen E. Thompson.
“She was a valiant young member of the Coral Springs Ward,” Thompson wrote.
Another Mormon student, Madeleine Wilford, was shot twice and was in surgery Wednesday night. According to a Facebook post from Wilford’s mother, Wilford will need a third surgery. Wilford is 17 years old and a junior.
A friend of Wilford’s mother created a Go Fund Me page to support Wilford. The page raised $9,906 within 15 hours.
Both families belong to the Coral Springs Ward of the Coral Springs Stake in South Florida.
“Both of these girls have been wonderful, righteous young women,” Thompson wrote. “Our hearts go out to them and their families and we pray for the Comforter to bless them with the peace of feeling our Savior’s love today and in the days to come.”
Family, friends and acquaintances are mourning the loss on social media.
No words are adequate. Anger, devastation, and heartbreak as this madness takes yet, another victim- someone’s child,…
Posted by Robyn Stallings Fields on Thursday, February 15, 2018
In the aftermath of the shooting, Florida Gov. Rick Scott said anyone who is mentally ill should not be allowed to own a firearm.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement about the shooting:
“Once again we find ourselves as a nation and as communities faced with a tragic loss of life and incomprehensible sorrow following the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. Among the many injured or killed were two members of our faith. To all of the victims and their loved ones, we extend our love. These are hours filled with grief, emptiness and a terrible sense of loss. We unite our prayers with millions of others who are mourning and praying for them.”
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