The skies were stormy as Father James Quinn, chaplain for the FBI’s Miami office, began to offer his public remarks. “Even the heavens are crying,” said Quinn, as he addressed the crowd of loved ones and coworkers gathered to remember FBI Special Agent Laura Schwartzenberger. “She led a life of sheer determination, dedication and courage,” according to FBI Director Christopher Wray.

Laura Schwartzenberger was killed alongside Special Agent Daniel Alfin during a child pornography investigation. The agents were killed and four others were wounded after the man at the center of the investigation opened fire while they attempted to serve a search warrant at his residence.

Laura was known as a tireless advocate for children. As she spent seven years working crimes against children. According to Wray, she experienced “the very worst parts of humanity. It’s a job with high stress, high emotional toll, and high burnout. But Laura never stopped.”

She was also known as a tireless athlete who used her fitness for good. She had the distinction as being the only female member of the Albuquerque SWAT team in its history. Michelle Brown, the gym owner where Schwartzenberger was known for her 5am Cross-Fit workouts, called her “a true hero.”

Director Wray said that Laura’s presence was so deeply felt in her community that several parents of victims from previous investigations reached out to ask how they could help care for her family. He said, “They asked how they can help Laura’s two boys. And that speaks volumes about what Laura meant to this community.”

Possible Preaching Angle:

A life given in service is never wasted; on the contrary, we live up to the highest ideals of the gospel of Jesus when we work to right the scales of justice and protect society’s most vulnerable. In so doing, we are affirming the value of every human life as worth protecting.