Candlelight Vigil To Pay Tribute To Sailor 'Mo' Haitham

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — While the family of a St. Petersburg sailor continues to mourn his loss following a terrorism attack Friday at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Mohammed Sameh Haitham's hometown is preparing to honor his memory.

Nineteen-year-old Haitham was among three sailors killed Friday when Mohammed Alshamrani (or al-Shamrani), a 21-year-old Saudi native serving as a second lieutenant in the Royal Saudi Air Force, opened fire on a classroom at the naval base.

Alshamrani was a foreign student at the Naval Education and Training Security Assistance Field Activities International Training Center at NAS Pensacola.

Haitham, known as "Mo" to his family and friends, was fatally shot as he ran toward the gunman in an attempt to stop the attack.

A track and field star at Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg, Haitham joined the Navy in May 2018 following high school. According to his family, he was looking forward to graduating from flight training school Dec. 19 and getting his first assignment to flight crew training.

During a press conference on Sunday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called Haitham a hero, a sentiment seconded by Capt. Tim Kinsella, the commanding officer at NAS Pensacola,

"The sailors who lost their lives in the line of duty showed exceptional heroism and bravery in the face of evil," said Kinsella.

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman said he hopes Haitham’s family finds “peace in knowing that Mo made our community and world better.”

Haitham's cousin, Ashley Williams, said the family is struggling to make sense of the loss of such a positive person whose goal in life was to help others.

"It's heartbreaking when you now have to refer to a family member in past tense," she said. "Embrace your loved ones."

Haitham was the middle child of three siblings. His mother, Evelyn Brady, is a 20-year Navy veteran.

Lakewoood High School Principal Erin Savage said Haitham could do no wrong.

“When you picture Mohammed, you picture a smile," she said. "He had a beautiful smile and always cared about people."

Whenever he was in town, as he was Thanksgiving weekend, Savage said he'd drop by his old high school where his younger brother now plays varsity football.

"He just wanted to know how everyone was doing," she said.

Savage said her assistant principal for curriculum nicknamed Haitham "The Perfect One."

"He was a perfect kid," she said. "Students and staff loved him."

In addition to being a standout on the track and cross-country team, Savage said Haitham played basketball and helped manage the girls' basketball team.

"When I heard he'd joined the military, I was so excited," she said. "He wanted to give back; he wanted to do good things."

She said when she received word of Haitham's death Saturday, "I was in disbelief."

“I just kept picturing his face with a gunman pointing a gun at him, and that initial shock and fear," she said. "As a mother, that is what took my breath away.”

She visited with Haitham's mother and learned of his heroic actions during the assault.

"I was not shocked at all," she said. "I could see him trying to save others, jumping in front of a gunman and trying to save himself but save others as well. He was always there for anybody who needed him."

Savage said the school community plans to be there for the family to provide moral support and anything else they may need.

On Monday, Dec. 16, at 5:30 p.m., the Pinellas County School District and Lakewood High School will honor Haitham's life with a candlelight vigil at the high school track, 1400 54th Ave. S., St. Petersburg.

Williams, who is helping to organize the event, noted that her cousin would have turned 20 years old Monday.

The vigil will begin with a message from Savage, followed by a prayer, two speakers and will end with an 800-meter (two laps) run/walk around the track. The 800-meter was Haitham's favorite race.

Williams is taking orders for T-shirts bearing Haitham's photo to wear at the vigil. Sizes range from small to 4x and cost $15. She can be contacted through her Facebook page.

Related stories:

• 19-Year-Old Airman From St. Pete Among Those Killed In Pensacola
• Pensacola Military Shooting: 3 Killed By Gunman, Who Is Shot Dead