One of at least 17 victims who were shot and killed by a 19-year-old gunman in Parkland, Florida on Wednesday attended a camp in Georgia last summer.
Alyssa Al Hadeff, 15, was a freshman at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Her cousin confirmed her death Thursday morning, the Miami Herald reported.
About 9:40 a.m. Thursday, URJ Camp Coleman posted to its Facebook page: "It is with a heavy heart that we share with you the very sad news that our camper Alyssa Alhadeff (Kesher 2017) was a victim in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL. On behalf of the entire Coleman community, we offer heartfelt condolences and prayers for comfort to Alyssa's family and friends. May Alyssa's memory forever be for a blessing."
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Camp Coleman is a program of the Union for Reform Judaism and is held each summer in Cleveland, Georgia. Its offices are based in north Fulton County, on Spalding Drive in Sandy Springs.
Al Hadeff attended the camp in 2017. The website for the camp says it allows campers to "experience Jewish culture and tradition while in a safe, challenging and fun environment."
The camp’s Facebook post added that other campers were in the Parkland school yesterday and “experienced the violence firsthand.” Camp Coleman will host a “Virtual Healing Service” for its community through the use of Facebook Live at 8 p.m. on Thursday.
Several victims of the shooting had still not been identified as of Thursday morning.
On live television Wednesday night, Al Hadeff’s grandmother wept, saying the family had been to several hospitals searching for the 15-year-old.
"We're waiting here to find out. They're trying to identify the bodies, and we're waiting here to see if we can get any word, any news, anything," her grandmother, Vicky Al Hadeff, told WSVN 7 News in Miami. "We don't know anything.
“She’s the sweetest. She’s a big soccer (player), very smart. She’s in track. She’s very popular, very beautiful girl.”
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Al Hadeff starred on the school's JV soccer team and notched an assist for the Lady Eagles in a win on Nov. 18.
The AJC has reached out to the camp and its director for a comment.
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