Thousands Gather to Mourn Girls Slain at High School

Quiet sobs joined the strains of “Amazing Grace” on Friday as thousands of mourners gathered to praise the religious devotion of three girls who were gunned down during a school prayer meeting.

Classmates, family and neighbors wept as photographs of Kacey Steger, Nicole Hadley and Jessica James flashed on huge television screens during the joint funeral in the cavernous Bible Baptist Heartland Worship Center.

“In a sense, they died for what they believed in,” said Ben Strong, the 17-year-old pastor’s son who persuaded the gunman to stop firing into the crowded school lobby on Monday morning.

“It hurts to see them go, but to them, there was no better way,” Strong said. “They were praying. As soon as they said, ‘amen,’ they saw the face of God.”

Friends and classmates left messages on the caskets: “We love you.” “We miss you.” “This isn’t goodbye, I’ll see you soon.”

Following the service, the girls were buried in separate, private services.

Police say Michael Carneal, a 14-year-old freshman, opened fire on his classmates as they wound up their daily informal prayers at Heath High School. In addition to the three who died, five other students were wounded.

Investigators questioned Carneal twice again Thursday night, and the boy insisted he acted alone.

McCracken County Sheriff Frank Augustus has said he believes the boy conspired with others, in part because of the arsenal the teen carried into the school lobby: a pistol, two rifles, two shotguns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

The sheriff also said Carneal gave other guns to a friend, who turned them over to authorities after the shootings.

Carneal is charged as a juvenile with murder, attempted murder and burglary for allegedly stealing the guns from a neighbor’s home.