MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) – A murdered FBI agent was remembered for her strength, infectious laugh, love for family and dedication to protecting children at a memorial service on Saturday.
Agents Laura Schwartzenberger, 43, and Daniel Alfin, 36, were shot on Tuesday while serving a search warrant at the Broward County home of a child pornography suspect. The service for Schwartzenberger was held at the Miami Dolphins football stadium. A separate service for Alfin will be held there on Sunday.
“There are no good words to understand a loss like this, no good words for a day like Tuesday or like today,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “There is a heaviness in our hearts and a burden unlike any other because there is nothing worse for the FBI family than the loss of an agent in the line of duty.”
Schwartzenberger’s chest was draped with an American flag when it was brought to the field while bagpipers played. The flag was later folded into a triangle and presented to her family by Wray. She received a 21-gun salute while on duty.
Laura chose to be part of a team that spends their days in darkness confronting the very worst parts of humanity. It’s a job with a lot of stress, a high emotional toll and a high burnout, ”said Wray of the agent, who was originally from Pueblo, Colorado. Laura never stopped. She would talk to anyone about protecting children from predators online. “
The shootings were one of the bloodiest days in FBI history in South Florida and one of the deadliest days nationally, according to the FBI website. Suspect David Huber, 55, committed suicide before he could be arrested.