Funerals begin for victims gunned down at Florida high school

Seventeen were killed and more than a dozen others were injured in the shooting.

ByABC News
February 16, 2018, 1:37 PM

— -- Distraught teens dressed in black were seen wiping away tears as they left the funeral of a 14-year-old classmate killed in a Valentine's Day massacre at a South Florida high school.

Services began today for some of the victims who were gunned down at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on Wednesday.

Seventeen people -- including students, a teacher and a football coach -- were killed in the rampage. The suspect, a former student, was arrested and has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder.

PHOTO: People arrive before a funeral service for Alyssa Alhadeff at the Star of David Funeral Chapel in North Lauderdale, Fla., Feb. 16, 2018. Alhadeff was one of the victims of Wednesday shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
People arrive before a funeral service for Alyssa Alhadeff at the Star of David Funeral Chapel in North Lauderdale, Fla., Feb. 16, 2018. Alhadeff was one of the victims of Wednesday shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
PHOTO: People arrive before a funeral service for Alyssa Alhadeff at the Star of David Funeral Chapel in North Lauderdale, Fla., Feb. 16, 2018.
People arrive before a funeral service for Alyssa Alhadeff at the Star of David Funeral Chapel in North Lauderdale, Fla., Feb. 16, 2018.

The service for Alyssa Alhadeff, 14, who played local soccer, was held this morning.

PHOTO: A program is seen from the funeral of Alyssa Alhadeff at the Garden of Aaron at Star of David Memorial Gardens, Feb. 16, 2018, in Parkland, Fla.
A program is seen from the funeral of Alyssa Alhadeff at the Garden of Aaron at Star of David Memorial Gardens, Feb. 16, 2018, in Parkland, Fla. Alhadeff was one of 17 people killed in the February 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
PHOTO: Two people embrace as they arrive before a funeral service for Alyssa Alhadeff at the Star of David Funeral Chapel in North Lauderdale, Fla., Feb. 16, 2018.
Two people embrace as they arrive before a funeral service for Alyssa Alhadeff at the Star of David Funeral Chapel in North Lauderdale, Fla., Feb. 16, 2018.

Alyssa Alhadeff's mother, Lori Alhadeff, with tears on her face, made an emotional plea in an HLN interview Thursday, urging action. "President Trump, please do something! Do something. Action! We need it now! These kids need safety now!" she said.

PHOTO: Mourners are seen at the funeral of Alyssa Alhadeff at the Garden of Aaron at Star of David Memorial Gardens, Feb. 16, 2018, in Parkland, Fla.
Mourners are seen at the funeral of Alyssa Alhadeff at the Garden of Aaron at Star of David Memorial Gardens, Feb. 16, 2018, in Parkland, Fla.
PHOTO: Mourners leave the funeral for Alyssa Aldaheff, 14, one of the victims of the school shooting, in North Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Feb. 16, 2018.
Mourners leave the funeral for Alyssa Aldaheff, 14, one of the victims of the school shooting, in North Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Feb. 16, 2018.

"How do we allow a gunman to come into our children's school? How do they get through security? What security is there?" Lori Alhadeff screamed, according to CNN. "The gunman -- a crazy person -- just walks right into the school, knocks down the window of my child's door and starts shooting. Shooting her! And killing her!"

PHOTO: People arrive before a funeral service for Alyssa Alhadeff at the Star of David Funeral Chapel in North Lauderdale, Fla., Feb. 16, 2018. Alhadeff was one of the victims of Wednesday shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
People arrive before a funeral service for Alyssa Alhadeff at the Star of David Funeral Chapel in North Lauderdale, Fla., Feb. 16, 2018. Alhadeff was one of the victims of Wednesday shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
PHOTO: Luis Rodriguez arrives for the funeral of Alyssa Alhadeff at the Garden of Aaron at Star of David Memorial Gardens, Feb. 16, 2018, in Parkland, Fla.
Luis Rodriguez arrives for the funeral of Alyssa Alhadeff at the Garden of Aaron at Star of David Memorial Gardens, Feb. 16, 2018, in Parkland, Fla.

The funeral for Meadow Pollack, 18, a college-bound senior, was held this afternoon.

PHOTO: A pine casket containing the remains of Meadow Pollack is rolled into the Jewish congregation Kol Tikvah before the start of a funeral service, Feb. 16, 2018, in Parkland, Fla.
A pine casket containing the remains of Meadow Pollack is rolled into the Jewish congregation Kol Tikvah before the start of a funeral service, Feb. 16, 2018, in Parkland, Fla.

The 18-year-old "was a beautiful girl, inside and out," her cousin Jake Maisner said, according to The Sun Sentinel.

Pollack was the youngest of 10 grandchildren, Maisner said.

“She was the baby of the family," he said, according to the Sentinel. "Everyone wanted to protect her."

PHOTO: Family and friends gather for the funeral service for Meadow Pollack at the Jewish congregation Kol Tikvah, Feb. 16, 2018, in Parkland, Fla.
Family and friends gather for the funeral service for Meadow Pollack at the Jewish congregation Kol Tikvah, Feb. 16, 2018, in Parkland, Fla.
PHOTO: Family and friends console each other as they arrive for the funeral of Meadow Pollack, a victim of the Wednesday shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Fla., Feb. 16, 2018.
Family and friends console each other as they arrive for the funeral of Meadow Pollack, a victim of the Wednesday shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Fla., Feb. 16, 2018.
PHOTO: A woman weeps as she sits outside the Temple K'ol Tikvah before the funeral of Meadow Pollack, a victim of the Wednesday shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Fla., Feb. 16, 2018.
A woman weeps as she sits outside the Temple K'ol Tikvah before the funeral of Meadow Pollack, a victim of the Wednesday shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Fla., Feb. 16, 2018.

Pollack had been accepted to Lynn University in Boca Raton, according to ABC affiliate WPLG.

"Meadow was a lovely young woman, who was full of energy," said university spokeswoman Jamie D'Aria, according to WPLG. "We were very much looking forward to having her join our community in the fall."