HIALEAH, Fla. – A funeral was held Wednesday for Carlos Gavilanes, one of the six people killed in a mass shooting at a Hialeah apartment complex.
The 9-year-old son of Gavilanes, 33, led his father's casket in to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. He was then buried at Miami Memorial Park.
Special coverage: Hialeah massacre
Police said Gavilanes, 33, was killed Friday evening by Pedro Vargas. He was coming home from a pizza party when he was shot in front of his son.
"It was just being in the wrong place at the wrong time," said Sewall Memzel, a family friend. "He saved his son, so in a way he sacrificed himself."
"I don't know how to express the way I feel right now," said Alexandra Gavilanes, the victim's mother. "I feel empty."
Five others were killed: building manager Italo Pisciotti and Samira Pisciotti, his wife; and, Patricio Simono, 64, Merly Niebles, 51, and Pricilla Perez, her 17-year-old daughter. Vargas then took the two hostages before he was shot and killed by police.
Other viewings, burials scheduled
On Wednesday evening, a viewing was held for Italo and Samira Pisciotti at Vista Memorial Funeral Home, 14200 NW 57th Avenue in Miami Lakes. Their burial will be at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Vista Memorial Gardens.
Also on Wednesday, a viewing was held for Niebles and Perez at San Jose Funeral Home. Their burial will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Dade South Memorial Park, 14200 SW 117th Avenue in Miami.
A viewing will be held for Simono at 5 p.m. Sunday at San Jose Funeral Home. The burial will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Dade South Memorial Park.
Samira Pisciotti and Italo Pisciotti.
Donations to the families of the victims can be made to: Survivors Pathway, PO Box 138882, Hialeah, FL 33013