Friends, family and colleagues have gathered at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens for a memorial service honoring slain FBI agent Lau...
Friends, family and colleagues have gathered at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens for a memorial service honoring slain FBI agent Laura Schwartzenberger who was killed in the line of duty earlier this week.
Schwartzenberger, 43, and fellow special agent Daniel Alfin, 36, were shot dead Tuesday while trying to execute a search warrant during a child pornography investigation in Sunrise, Florida.
David Lee Huber - who was suspected of exchanging pornographic images of underage children engaging in sex acts - shot Alfin and Schwartzenberger with a rifle, before taking his own life by turning the gun on himself.
Mourners, including several members of law enforcement and dignitaries, were seen braving the wet weather Saturday as they arrived at the venue to pay their respects to the special agent.
The service was closed to the public and limited to invited guests only due to local COVID-19 restrictions, but was streamed online. A second memorial for Alfin will be held at the stadium on Sunday at 2pm.
A memorial service for Special Agent Laura Schwartzenberger was held at the Miami Dolphins' football stadium Saturday. A separate service for Special Agent Daniel Alfin will be held there Sunday
Schwartzenberger's casket was draped with an American flag as it was brought out to the field as bagpipers played
A group of fellow FBI agent brought the casket out onto the field. They were closely followed by her family
A team of eight FBI agents worked to bring the casket of fallen Agent Laura Schwartzenberger onto the field
Schwartzenberger's casket was draped with an American flag as it was brought out to the field as bagpipers played
Fellow FBI agents bowed bowed their heads and they brought the coffin out onto the field for the memorial service
Bagpipers played while the fallen FBI agent was given a 21-gun salute during the service
'There are no good words to make sense of a loss like this, no good words for a day like Tuesday, or like today,' said FBI Director Christopher Wray. 'There's a heaviness in our hearts and a burden unlike any other, because there is nothing more devastating to the FBI family than the loss of an agent in the line of duty.'
'A dear friend, a doting wife, to make any parent proud. Laura, you bless the light of each and every person you touch. We will never forget you,' said Schwartzenberger's friend Brenda Chavez. Her husband is pictured to the left
Mourners stand with their hands over their hearts as a procession for slain FBI agent Laura Schwartzenberger leaves the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida Saturday
An Honor Guard stands at attention as the hearse arrives with slain FBI agent Laura Schwartzenberger for a memorial service in her honor at Hard Rock Stadium on February 06, 2021 in Miami Gardens
Mourners dressed in black and wore protective face masks during the invitation-only event. Two guests are seen hugging as they leave the memorial service Saturday
Mourners hug as they leave the memorial service held to honor the slain FBI agent
Law enforcement representatives embrace as they leave an emotional memorial service for Special Agent Schwartzenberger
Special Agent Laura Schwartzenberger, 43, and Special Agent Daniel Alfin, 36, were shot dead Tuesday as they tried to execute a search warrant at the home of David Lee Huber - who was suspected of exchanging pornographic images of underage children
The emotional service saw mourners deliver prepared remarks for Schwartzenberger who was remembered for her strength, infectious laugh, love of family and commitment to protecting children.
'There are no good words to make sense of a loss like this, no good words for a day like Tuesday, or like today,' FBI Director Christopher Wray said, calling the mother-of-two a 'true American hero.'
'There's a heaviness in our hearts and a burden unlike any other, because there is nothing more devastating to the FBI family than the loss of an agent in the line of duty.'
'She led a life of sheer determination, dedication and courage,' Wray added. 'Laura chose to be part of a team that spends their days in darkness confronting the very worst parts of humanity.
'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 high stress, high emotional toll and high burnout,' Wray said of the agent, who was originally from Pueblo, Colorado. 'Laura never stopped. She'd talk to anybody and everybody about protecting children from predators online.'
Friend Brenda Chavez remembered Schwartzenberger as 'a true protector of those she loved and cared for.'
'To a dear friend, a loving wife, a doting mother, an inspirational sister, an affectionate daughter that would make any parent proud, and to the biggest badass I know: Laura, you blessed the life of each and every person you touched,' Chavez said. 'We will never forget you.'
The memorial service was held at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida
Sheriffs are seen gathered outside the service at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida
Broward County Sheriff's Office leads the hearse carrying Schwartzenberger in a procession following the memorial service
A funeral procession for slain FBI agent Laura Schwartzenberger leaves the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami
Several members of law enforcement, including the Delray Beach Honor Guard, were among those in attendance
Mourners are pictured arriving for the memorial service to honor slain FBI agent Laura Schwartzenberger
Motorized police escort the funeral procession for slain FBI agent Laura Schwartzenberger
George L. Piro, FBI Miami Special Agent in Charge, speaks to the media after the memorial service
Schwartzenberger's casket was draped with an American flag as it was brought out to the field as bagpipers played. The flag was later folded into a triangle and presented to her family by Wray. She was given a 21-gun salute during the service.
Acting Attorney General Monty Wilkinson and Assistant to the President for Homeland Security Elizabeth Sherwood Randall were among the guests in attendance, along with members of local and federal law enforcement.
The memorial service kicked off earlier Saturday afternoon with a procession beginning at the Sawgrass Expressway and University Drive. The Broward Sheriff's Office issued traffic advisories for the weekend ahead for both events.
Schwartzenberger started her career at FBI Albuquerque Division in New Mexico in 2005 before serving in the FBI for 15 years. She moved to Miami in 2010 where she investigated crimes against children.
The agency said she worked anonymously, teaching children and adults how to avoid online sexual exploitation. She is survived by her husband and two children.
Guests and representatives from various law enforcement agencies arrive in the rain for a memorial service for FBI Special Agent Laura Schwartzenberger
Mourners arrive for the memorial service to honor slain FBI agent Laura Schwartzenberger at Hard Rock Stadium
Close family members and friends were able to attend the service which took place on Saturday afternoon
Schwartzenberger was born in Pueblo, Colorado, and graduated from Pueblo South High School in 1996. She later attended Colorado State University for a year before receiving a degree in criminal justice at Northeastern University in 2000.
David Lee Huber (pictured) shot Alfin and Schwartzenberger dead on Tuesday as they tried to execute a search warrant at his Sunrise apartment as part of a child pornography investigation
On Friday Colorado Governor Jared Polis ordered flags to be lowered at half-staff on all public buildings across the state in her honor.
Alfin, 36, who also investigated child exploitation cases, had previously worked at FBI headquarters handling major cases involving violent crimes against children, according to court records.
The married father-of-one had a degree in information technology and went through the FBI's specialized training programs for cybercrimes. He was involved in a major child exploitation investigation dubbed Playpen that resulted in arrests around the world.
According to The Miami Herald police had been called to Huber's address twice in the past year for domestic disturbances.
On one occasion, cops came to Huber's home responding to a report that 'a man was screaming at a neighbor and making a throat-slashing gesture.' The second call related to a report about a man 'hallucinating'.
A former co-worker told The Miami Herald that Huber 'once told him he was bipolar and he feared Huber might shoot up the office after being fired over an angry outburst.'
Elsewhere, another man who once worked with Huber at a computer company told WTVJ Channel 6 that Huber was on medication.
'He did talk about some days when he really needed to get his meds. He told me he had some mental issues with bipolar, manic depressive [disorders]. He was really anxious about getting his meds that would keep him cool,' the ex-colleague, Christian Suarez, stated.
The FBI has not released any details about what Huber was being investigated for and the federal court-approved search warrant for the raid is still sealed.
Law enforcement sources, however, told the Miami Herald that it was a 'run of the mill' investigation.
The FBI is still examining the contents of Huber's computer for evidence. In addition, agents are also now investigating how their routine raid ended in bloodshed.
Huber, who ran computer consulting businesses, is believed to have used a doorbell camera to monitor the agents before opening fire on them through his closed door as they arrived to execute the search warrant early Tuesday.
The hearse carrying the casket of FBI Special Agent Laura Schwartzenberger arrives at the memorial service Saturday
Two Broward County Sheriff Officers are seen embracing outside the stadium where the service was taking place
A limo departs with slain FBI agent Laura Schwartzenberger after a memorial service in her honor
The funeral procession for slain FBI agent Laura Schwartzenberger leaves the Hard Rock Stadium
Police on horseback are pictured waiting patiently outsider the stadium on Saturday afternoon
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