First lady Michelle Obama will attend the funeral service for 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton, the young girl who was shot just a mile away from the Obamas’ Chicago home.
Education Secretary Arne Duncan and senior presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett will join the first lady for the services Saturday.
All three Obama administration members are former Chicago residents, offering their support to the city as it rallies against widespread violence. Duncan served as CEO of Chicago Public Schools before departing for Washington, and Jarrett began her political career in Chicago in 1987.
With over 40 people killed, January was the deadliest month for Chicago in over a decade. Last year, the city recorded more than 500 homicides. Pendleton’s family hopes that her death will propel the ongoing gun control debate further.
No arrests have been made so far in the Pendleton homicide investigation, despite the $40,000 reward offered for information on the crime. The case influenced Mayor Rahm Emanuel to put an additional 200 police officers on active patrol, and has drawn nationwide attention.
