First lady Michelle Obama will attend the funeral in Chicago on Saturday of 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton, who was shot to death a week after performing at President Barack Obama's second inauguration.
A White House official said the first lady would attend the service for Pendleton, along with Valerie Jarrett, the senior adviser to the president, and Arne Duncan, the secretary of education.
Pendleton's murder has both spotlighted Chicago's struggle to stop rising gun and gang-related violence, and to the overall issue of gun control. The killing was the 42nd this year in Chicago, and the city had over 500 gun-related deaths last year.
Pendleton was gunned down by a gang member while taking shelter from rain with about a dozen other people in a park less than a mile from the Obamas' Kenwood home, according to the New York Times. Previous reports indicated that the shooter believed he was shooting at a rival gang. No arrests have yet been made in her case.
Pendleton, an honors student, stand-out volleyball player, and a majorette in the Kings College Prep High School band, was herself a proponent against gang-related violence. In a 2008 public service announcement, she said, "So many children out there are in gangs, and it's your job as students to say no to gangs and yes to a great future."
She performed last month with her high school band at an inauguration party sponsored by Representative Danny K. David, according to the Chicago Sun Times.
The administration is stepping up its efforts for gun control, with Vice President Joe Biden planning to travel to Philadelphia to meet with law enforcement officials and Congressional Democrats next Monday, and President Obama plans to lay out his methods of curbing gun violence in his State of the Union speech on Tuesday.
Pendleton's wake and funeral is scheduled at the Greater Harvest Baptist Church on Saturday at 10 a.m.
