'I tried to warm her body with my hands': Parents of Parkland victims speak before sentencing

Summary

In a heart-wrenching court statement, Lori Alhadif, mother of Alyssa, a victim of the Parkland school shooting, recounts the last moments with her daughter and expresses her anguish. She demands justice and vows to continue advocating for school safety through their nonprofit. Dr. Alex Alhadif also speaks, expressing frustration with the judicial system for not issuing a death sentence to the perpetrator. He calls for harsher punishment and for the murderer to be stripped of all privileges, emphasizing the need for societal change to prevent such tragedies.

Takeaways

• 😢 Alyssa Alhadeff, a young soccer player, was tragically shot and killed on February 14, 2018.
• 💔 Alyssa's mother, Lori Alhadeff, expressed an immense love for her daughter and the deep pain of losing her.
• 😡 Lori conveyed her anger and frustration at the judicial system for not sentencing the killer to death.
• 😭 The family is committed to honoring Alyssa's memory through their non-profit organization focused on school safety.
• 🔥 Dr. Alex Alhadeff expressed outrage at the judicial system's failure to deliver a death sentence for the mass murderer.
• 😤 Dr. Alhadeff demanded accountability and justice, emphasizing that the killer's life was valued over the 17 victims.
• 🏆 He called for Alyssa's Law to be federally mandated to enhance school safety and ensure such tragedies are prevented.
• 🔒 Dr. Alhadeff requested the harshest punishment for the killer, including the removal of privileges and isolation from society.
• 🚫 He advocated for the killer to be placed in general population, stripped of all protections, and to never be paroled.
• 📢 The Alhadeffs urged the media to deny notoriety to the killer by refusing to show his face or name, referring to him only as a mass murderer.

Q & A

What significant event occurred in Alyssa's life on February 13, 2018?

On February 13, 2018, Alyssa played in the last soccer game of her life, wearing the number eight.

How did Lori Kim al-Hadaf describe her feelings towards her daughter Alyssa?

Lori Kim al-Hadaf described her love for her daughter as indescribable and expressed that she would have done anything for Alyssa, including giving her life in exchange for Alyssa's.

What tragic event took place on February 14, 2018, involving Alyssa?

On February 14, 2018, Alyssa was shot and killed, which Lori Kim al-Hadaf described as the most painful day of her life.

What was Alyssa's role in her family according to her mother's testimony?

Alyssa was described as the heartbeat of the family, someone who brought people together with her beautiful smile and contagious laugh.

What did Lori Kim al-Hadaf do on February 15th after Alyssa's death?

On February 15th, Lori Kim al-Hadaf went to the medical examiner's office to see Alyssa, and later that day, she was finally able to see Alyssa in person.

What emotions did Lori Kim al-Hadaf express towards the killer of her daughter?

Lori Kim al-Hadaf expressed anger, frustration, and a desire for the killer to experience misery and pain for the rest of his life.

What is the name of the non-profit organization that Lori Kim al-Hadaf mentioned in her testimony?

The non-profit organization mentioned is 'Make Our Schools Safe.'

What was Dr. Alex's main frustration regarding the judicial system as expressed in the script?

Dr. Alex was frustrated that the judicial system did not hand down a death sentence to the murderer of his daughter and 16 others, and he felt that the system valued the killer's life over the lives of the victims.

What did Dr. Alex request in terms of punishment for the killer?

Dr. Alex requested that the killer be subjected to a punishment like no other, including being taken out of general population, being denied TV, internet, mail, phone calls, visitation, and education, and being forbidden parole under any circumstances.

What is 'Alyssa's Law' as mentioned by Dr. Alex in the script?

Alyssa's Law is a law that Dr. Alex and his family are advocating for, aiming to make schools safe from individuals like the one who killed Alyssa.

What was the final message Dr. Alex wanted to convey to the media regarding the killer?

Dr. Alex asked the media to not give the killer notoriety, to block out the killer's face and name, and to refer to the killer as a mass murderer, a killer, or an animal.