UPDATE 2-9-13 2:52 PM
Barack Obama pens a letter to Hadiya Pendleton’s parents, Cleopatra and Nathaniel Pendleton.
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The funeral for Hadiya Pendleton, the girl who was shot down in Chicago just a week after performing at Obama’s Presidential Inauguration, is being held today and you can watch it live below.
The ceremonies went forward this morning in Chi-Town, as many friends, family, and supporters came out to Greater Harvest Baptist Church in order to show their condolences to the loss of the beautiful 15 year old and Michelle Obama has arrived and was seen embracing the mother of the slain teen.
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Waiting in line for the ceremony was Hadiya’s band from King College Prep, who wore their yellow and black majorette coats in honor of her.
Close family and friends were given orange wristbands so that they could enter through a shorter security line into the church.
Although many are mourning her death, there is progress being made in the case of finding her killer, according to CBS Local Chicago.
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Police Supt. Garry McCarthy commented on the investigation and the significant progress:
“There is, but I don’t want to comment on any of it, because it’s at a very, very … it’s at a critical point where there are some things that we expect are going to make a difference in the very near future,” he said. “But I really can’t reveal it to you, because it could jeopardize everything.”
McCarthy also revealed that the Hadiya was not part of a gang, but the shooting was a sign of “gang overtones”.
A member of a gang is reported to have shot her and the group she was with sheltering from the rain, even though he mistakenly thought they were members of a rival gang.
Our prayers and condolences are with the Pendleton family on this difficult day. Watch Hadiya’s funeral live above!
SOURCE: Chicago Tribune & CBS Local
