Hadiya Pendleton Funeral, 'Heartbroken' Michelle Obama to Attend Burial of Teen Inaugural Performer Shot, Killed in Chicago

Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old teenager who performed at several of President Barack Obama's recent  inaugural events as a Majorette dancer in the King College Prep High School band, was shot and fatally killed in Chicago on Tuesday, January 29. According to several reports, as a mother and Chicagoan, Michelle Obama was completely heartbroken by the tragic news of Pendleton's death. The First Lady plans on attending the young teen's funeral on Saturday, Feb. 9 at the Greater Harvest Baptist Church on the South Side of Chicago.

The White House announced on Friday that although First Lady Obama is not expected to make any public remarks, she will be attending Pendleton's Saturday morning services in Chicago. President Obama and the couple's two daughters, Malia and Sasha, are not expected to attend. According to Michelle Obama's communications director Kristina Schake:

"As a mother and Chicagoan, the first lady was heartbroken to learn of the tragic loss of Hadiya Pendleton due to senseless gun violence. Too many times, we've seen young people struck down with so much of their lives ahead of them.  The first lady is traveling to her funeral on Saturday to offer her condolences and support to Hadiya's family and loved ones."

As Mstarz originally reported:

According to ABC News, Pendleton was one of approximately 12 teenagers huddled under a canopy in the park after school in order to escape the heavy rainfall on Tuesday afternoon. An unidentified man then jumped a fence and ran toward the group of teenagers, sporadically opening gunshot fire. The shooter quickly fled the scene in a nearby vehicle - no arrests have yet to be made.

Police do not believe that Pendleton was an intended target of the shooting - she just happened to be an innocent bystander who tragically fell victim to the open gunfire (most likely involving Gang activity). One other teenager was injured during the shooting - a boy (who friends identify as17-year-old Lawrence Sellers) was shot in the leg and expected to fully recover.

Pendleton was a Sophomore honor student who belonged to the Majorette dance team in the King College Prep High School band. She had the privilege to perform as a member of the band at several prestigious inaugural events in Washington, D.C. earlier this year.

Pendleton was a well-liked student who was also a member of the Drill and volleyball team. Fellow students wore red to school on Wednesday in remembrance of their murdered classmate, and several took part in a prayer circle.

According to fellow student Janai Bates - "Lawrence and Hadiya aren't the type of people to get in a conflict with anybody... Everybody loved them, they joked with everybody, they give out that warmth" (Daily Mail).

Pendleton's death comes just days after Obama (whose Chicago home is only a mile from the murder scene) announced plans to ban assault weapons as part of a drastic overhaul of gun laws.

Governor Pat Quinn, an advocate for tougher gun control measures, is scheduled to speak at the funeral. Quinn recently said in a statement: "There are no words in the English language, or any language, to relieve the pain of parents who lose a child."

A source for the White House reports that senior adviser Valerie Jarrett and Education Secretary Arne Duncan, both natives of Chicago, also will attend the funeral.

President Obama reached out to Pendleton's family to offer his condolences last week. Sources confirm that the family was initially concerned that the Obamas' attendance at the services would overshadow the actual funeral, but after learning of Michelle's plans to attend, Shatira Wilks (a cousin who serves as the family's spokesperson) said, "It's a nice gesture and we appreciate it. But that is who we are."

Visitation is scheduled for 2-9 p.m. Friday in Calahan Funeral Home at 7030 S. Halsted St. On Saturday, the wake continues at 9 a.m. followed by the funeral at 11 a.m. in Greater Harvest Baptist Church, 5141 S. State St.

There remains a $40,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in the teen's tragic death.