A touching tribute. J.K. Rowling sent flowers to the funeral of one of the 49 victims killed in the shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday, June 12.
The Harry Potter author, 50, had a wreath of red roses and carnations delivered to Luis Vielma’s memorial on Friday, June 17, along with a handwritten note. “To Luis, who died for love. You will never be forgotten,” she wrote.
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Vielma worked at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a popular theme park at Universal Studios in Orlando. He operated the attraction’s Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride.
Earlier in the week, Rowling mourned the loss of the 22-year-old via Twitter, where she posted a photo of Vielma dressed in his work attire.
“Luis Vielma worked on the Harry Potter ride at Universal,” she wrote. “He was 22 years old. I can’t stop crying.”
Universal Studios Orlando also paid tribute to Vielma, writing in a statement, “We are deeply saddened over the loss of our team member. We are working to support his friends and colleagues here at Universal Orlando. Our thoughts and prayers are with Luis, his family and all the victims of this tragedy.”
Harry Potter fans also gathered at the amusement park on Monday to honor the Orlando shooting victims, and raised their wands to the sky, as Hogwarts students did in the Potter book and movie after Professor Dumbledore died.
As previously reported, 29-year-old gunman Omar Mateen opened fire at the Orlando gay nightclub, leaving 49 dead and 53 injured. He was later killed during a shoot-out with police. Prior to the attack, he reportedly called 911 to pledge his allegiance to ISIS.
The shooting at Pulse nightclub is now the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.
