COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The dates and times for funeral services for the three victims killed in a shooting at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs on Black Friday have been announced.
The service for Ke’Arre Stewart, an Iraq War veteran, is scheduled for Thursday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Angelus Chapel (1004 South Circle Drive, Colorado Springs).
“We’re all supposed to get old and fat and go to the VA and the VFW and drink beers and talk about war stories you know. We’re not supposed to be out living our normal lives at 29 years old and getting gunned down,” said Tony Fisher, a friend of Stewart who added they met at Fort Hood and served in Iraq together.
Stewart was shot while at the clinic with his girlfriend. It is believed he tried to warn others after being shot.
“We’re trained in this you know, this is what we do. We chase down adversity and evil in its face and we do the best we can you know,” Fisher said.
Friends of Stewart have set up a fundraiser to offset funeral costs.
The second victim, Jennifer Markovsky, 35, from Hawaii, was a wife and mother of two.
“I am in deep lost (sp) of my daughter that was killed for something so senseless, she was supporting a friend that needed help. I’m so sad and broken-hearted,” her father, John Ah-King, said in a statement.
Her funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Holy Theophany Orthodox Church (2770 N. Chestnut St.), with memorial and funeral services held Friday night at the same church, according to KRDO.
A fundraising page in memory of Markovsky has been set up.
RELATED: Complete coverage of Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood shooting
The third victim, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs police Officer Garrett Swasey, was rushed to a clinic about 10 miles away to offer his assistance when he got the call.
“There was no way any of us could have kept him here,” UCCS police Chief Brian McPike said. “He was always willing to go. … He had an enthusiasm that was hard to quell.”
The funeral service and procession for Swasey is set for Friday at 1 p.m. at New Life Church (11025 Voyager Parkway).
The procession will end at Evergreen Cemetery, where a cemetery service will take place for family only.
A fundraiser benefiting his wife Rachel and his two children — Elijah, 10 and Faith, 6 — had reached $159,000 out of its stated goal of $100,000 as of Wednesday afternoon.
In a statement, the Swasey family said:
The family of Officer Garrett Swasey sincerely thanks everyone for their support during this very difficult time. Our loss cannot be expressed in words. While the nation now knows Garrett as a hero who gave his life for others, he was also a devoted husband of 17 years and a wonderful father to his two children. His greatest joys were his family, his church, and his profession. We will cherish his memory, especially those times he spent tossing the football to his son and snuggling with his daughter on the couch.
Garrett was born in Melrose, Massachusetts. After a successful career in ice skating, Garrett found his calling as a police officer. Helping others brought him deep satisfaction and being a police officer was a part of him. In the end, his last act was for the safety and wellbeing of others and was a tribute to his life. What we need most today, and in the coming weeks, is your prayers for our family and for others who were impacted by this tragedy. We are grateful for the tremendous outpouring of love that has come from the community and across the nation.
We understand this is a public tragedy felt by many and we also appreciate your support for us to grieve privately.