WOODSTOCK, Ga. (NewsNation) — Laken Riley, 22, will be laid to rest Friday, a week after she was killed on the University of Georgia campus while on a run. A man who authorities say was in the country illegally has been arrested and charged with murder.
A visitation for family and friends of Riley’s will be held Friday from noon to 2 p.m. EST. After the visitation, funeral services will be held at Woodstock City Church in northern Georgia.
Riley has been described as a bright light by her friends, family and community. Students at UGA say they want to set politics aside and honor Riley’s life.
“Laken showed devotion with every aspect of her life,” Chloe Mullis, president of the UGA chapter of Alpha Chi Omega, said at a vigil last week after Riley’s death. “Doing things halfway just wasn’t an option. We lost one of the brightest lights that has ever been.”
Riley was killed while on a run near the UGA campus fields. Her suspected killer, Jose Ibarra, 26, was denied bond and remains in police custody. The arrest of Ibarra, a Venezuelan immigrant who authorities say entered the U.S. illegally, has raised concern over the state of border security and immigration policies.
“I feel her death all throughout the campus,” UGA student Leanna Chowdhury said. “Every single time I go to class, I feel her loss and the community feels her loss. I am happy we can all mourn her in a healthy way.”
Riley had been a student at UGA until last spring when she transferred to Augusta University, but she remained close with her sorority sisters.
According to Riley’s obituary, she had a passion for nursing and selflessly cared for others.
According to family and friends, Riley loved to run. She ran every day and dreamed of becoming a nurse. The 22-year-old was also very active in her church.
“Her love for the Lord was exemplified in every aspect of her life. Laken was an amazing daughter, sister, friend and an overall extraordinary person,” the obituary states. “She will be missed every day, but we promise to honor her life moving forward in a very big way.”
Instead of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to Riley’s GoFundMe account, which will be used to create the “Laken Hope Riley Foundation” to promote women’s safety. As of Friday morning, more than $170,000 had been raised.