Funeral held for Hialeah shooting victim

Carlos Gavilanes buried; Police: Pedro Vargas killed Gavilanes, 5 others

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.

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Samira Pisciotti and Italo Pisciotti.

Donations to the families of the victims can be made to: Survivors Pathway, PO Box 138882, Hialeah, FL 33013