THOUSAND OAKS, California - Shock and sadness loomed over the Housley family as their kin, Alaina, was identified among the 12 victims in the Borderline Bar and Grill massacre earlier this week.
The 18-year-old Filipino American recently moved to the area to study in Pepperdine University, the same school where her parents met.
"Words can’t describe our grief over losing our daughter, Alaina," Alaina's father, Arick Housley, said in a statement.
"She was everything we could hope for in a child: kind, smart, beautiful and respectful," he said.
Housley also described his daughter as "a mock trial lover" who enjoyed public debates.
"She would have enjoyed the public debate that is certain to happen after this tragedy, but she would have insisted that it be respectful with an eye toward solving these senseless shootings," Housley said.
"It’s time for leadership in our country to step up," he said.
The family found out about the teen's death in the middle of the night, after a day of searching and hoping, Alaina's maternal grandfather, Ernesto Punzalan, told ABS-CBN News.
"We were hoping she just went somewhere because of the incident but unfortunately it turns out she was one of the victims," Punzalan said.
"Her dad and her mom were there for 4 years and we never had any case like this. This is really a shocking incident," he said.
Punzalan said he last saw his granddaughter in April at her high school graduation and was supposed to meet her during her recital before Christmas.
"It's very unfortunate. She played piano and violin," he said.
"She’s a nice girl, she’s academically extraordinary, she’s involved in all school activities, and athletics also academic and class activities extra curricular activities," he said.
"She has been a very good girl and I hope she will rest in peace," he said.
Pepperdine University held a prayer service for Alaina, Thursday afternoon.
The 18-year old and 11 others were killed by a lone gunman who stormed a crowded bar, Wednesday evening.
Authorities are still looking into the motive of the mass shooting incident.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
