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February 11, 2013

First Lady Among Mourners at Chicago Funeral for Slain Teen 
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First Lady Michelle Obama was among the mourners at a Chicago funeral on
Saturday for a 15-year-old girl killed in a random shooting just days
after performing at President Obama’s inauguration. Hadiya Pendleton
was with a group of friends when a gunman fired from nearby. Pendleton
had recently returned from Washington, where she had performed with her
school marching band during the inaugural festivities. The Obamas' home
is about a mile from the park where she was killed. During the service,
Michael Pfleger of the Greater Harvest Baptist Church and Hadiya's
mother, Cleo, decried gun violence and mourned the girl's death.

Father Michael Pfleger: "We're here because of an innocent victim of gun
violence. Anthony and Cleo, your angel has become the face and the
tragic reality of this epidemic of gun violence that is causing funeral
processions of our children."

Cleopatra Pendleton: "You don't know how hard this really is. And those
of you who do know how hard this is, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. No mother, no
father, should ever have to experience this."

On Sunday, the day after Hadiya Pendleton's funeral, two men were taken
into custody as "persons of interest" in the probe into her death.

 

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