J.K. Rowling Pays Tribute to Harry Potter Fan Killed in Orlando Shooting

J.K. Rowling paid tribute to a Harry Potter fan who lost his life in the Orlando shooting.

LeviChambers

Last night, J.K. Rowling honored the victims of the Orlando shooting in an emotional series of tweets. Specifically, she paid tribute to 22-year-old Luis S. Vielma; a dedicated Harry Potter fan who worked at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort.

\u201cUniversal Orlando statement on Luis Vielma, Harry Potter ride worker that died in #Orlando shooting. @jk_rowling\u201d
— Tufayel Ahmed \ud83d\udcda buy #ThisWayOut, out now! (@Tufayel Ahmed \ud83d\udcda buy #ThisWayOut, out now!) 1465819425

She posted her first tweet at 10:16 p.m. on June 12, which read "Luis Vielma worked on the Harry Potter ride at Universal. He was 22 years old. I can't stop crying. #Orlando".

\u201cLuis Vielma worked on the Harry Potter ride at Universal. He was 22 years old. I can't stop crying. #Orlando\u201d
— J.K. Rowling (@J.K. Rowling) 1465795010

Rowling continued to tweet for several hours retweeting fans and engaging with people who knew Vielma.

\u201c@jk_rowling Thank you for your tweet about Luis. He was our friend and it is unbearable. Your Wizarding World was his world. #LoveWins\u201d
— J.K. Rowling (@J.K. Rowling) 1465795010

She also expressed her hope that the Tony Awards ceremony would address the shooting and honor the victims, which they did.

\u201cI'm praying Tony pulls through. My thoughts are with all of you #LoveIsLove #Orlando https://t.co/JLSBMWRrfJ\u201d
— J.K. Rowling (@J.K. Rowling) 1465810016

Although the shooting at Pulse Orlando is devastating, Rowling's effort to relieve the pain reminded me that "happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light."