FORT MYERS, Fla. — An open-door memorial service was held Wednesday for 8-year-old Layla Aiken at Gallaher American Funeral Home in Fort Myers.
Layla’s dad, Glenn, says about 1,500 people attended.
People lined the outside of the funeral home, prior to the doors opening at 3p.m. Music, flowers, and pictures of Layla’s smiling face filled the inside of the venue.
Amidst tears and painful laughter as family and friends reminisced about moments with Layla, a father speaking candidly about what comes next. “If my daughter can stop one more child, and more family from going through this…then she didn’t die in vain,” Glenn Aiken said.
He encouraged the community to rally around chance that could prevent this tragedy from happening again. “Let’s try to get something concrete on the books to protect the kids, you know what I mean? Cause it can’t happen again.”
He says now that services are over, it is time to work towards ensuring the safety of Southwest Florida’s children. “I hope people are upset enough about it…they’re mad enough about it…that something will change.”
“Everybody’s responsible for the kids. Everybody.”
Layla Aiken’s life was tragically taken while she was waiting for her bus on Monday, March 25th. An unknown driver hit her and drove away. Cape Coral Police have the truck that struck Aiken in their custody. They also say they have a person of interest, but have not released any information about who that person is.
