Before he publicly paid tribute to Laken Hope Riley, a 22-year-old student who was attacked and slain while jogging near her Georgia nursing school, former President Donald Trump met backstage with her mother, father, sister, and friends.
President Trump’s campaign on March 11 released a statement and photos confirming that he met with seven loved ones of Ms. Riley backstage in advance of his March 9 rally in Rome, Georgia.
From them, President Trump learned that, “from the time she was in the first grade, Laken’s dream was to spend her life caring for others,” and “she was the brightest light in every room,” he said during his speech.
An illegal immigrant is accused of killing Ms. Riley on Feb. 22. Since then, her slaying has become a symbol of the illegal-immigration crisis that President Trump and others blame on Democrat President Joe Biden’s policies.
Both leading presidential candidates have made public remarks about Ms. Riley’s death during the past few days; immigration remains a top issue for many American voters.
Her stepfather, John Phillips, wrote a note on the online fundraising site, thanking people for their donations and “overwhelming support.”
“Laken was an amazing daughter, sister, friend and overall person in general. Her love for the Lord was exemplified in every aspect of her life. She will be missed every day, but we promise to honor her life moving forward in a very big way,” he said.
Police used surveillance camera footage to track down a suspect in the attack on Ms. Riley in a park on the University of Georgia campus at Athens; she was enrolled at Augusta University’s nursing college nearby.
Authorities identified the suspect as Jose Ibarra, 26, a native of Venezuela who was allowed to stay in the U.S. after illegally entering in 2022. Mr. Ibarra was jailed in Athens, Georgia, on multiple charges stemming from Ms. Riley’s death, including murder, assault, and kidnapping.
In his March 9 speech, President Trump characterized Mr. Ibarra as “an illegal alien criminal” whom President Biden “intentionally released into our country,” along with tens of thousands more like him.
“Biden has implemented a formal policy that illegal aliens who intrude into the United States are granted immunity from deportation,” President Trump said, adding that he has nicknamed this policy “free to kill.”
President Trump and others chided President Biden for getting Ms. Riley’s name wrong, calling her “Lincoln,” instead of “Laken.”
President Biden also drew fire from progressives because he referred to the suspect as “an illegal;” he later said that he should have used the term “undocumented” instead.
Two days later, at President Trump’s rally at The Forum in Rome, Georgia, many of the 4,000 attendees held posters with Ms. Riley’s picture on it and the words, “Say Her Name.”
President Trump addressed Ms. Riley’s loved ones in the audience, saying, “We share your grief.”
He added: “We vow to keep Laken’s memory alive for as long as we are here on this Earth and we take comfort that she is now home with God in Heaven. And I want to thank you for being here. Incredible. I know how tough it is.”
President Trump said Ms. Riley’s death reinforced his resolve to clamp down on illegal immigration and “I promise you I will demand justice for Laken.”
