BSO deputy remains connected to Parkland shooting survivor

PARKLAND, Fla. – "I just let God choose my words. It was amazing."

From her mouth, to God's ears 

A Broward Sheriff's Office deputy Brenda Louis says she's just a rookie, serving only two years on the force, but she's also the mom of a 16-year-old who can relate to what too many parents felt last Wednesday.

"It just me really hard," said Louis. "I don't know how long I cried, but I cried."

17 people, most of them children, would never return home. Medics raced the injured to area hospitals, including a 15-year-old named Kyle Laman who was shot in the leg.

Deputy Louis was later assigned to a detail on Kyle's floor at Broward Health.

"When Kyle came out from surgery, I just felt it in my heart — it was really heavy in me to pray for him," said Louis. "My sister actually texted me and she said, you need to pray for these kids — you are placed there for a reason."

"I just took a risk, and I asked the mom and the dad is it okay if I pray for Kyle  and they were very ecstatic they were happy."

A picture showing Louis and Kyle has been shared many times over social media, but since her eyes were closed, Louis can't say who took the picture.

Louis is speaking, but she cannot recall what she said. With her hand on Kyle's leg, Deputy Louis says "she and God were having a conversation."

"I just believe prayer is very powerful," Louis says.

Some angels don't wear white. Some of them wear green.  A rookie on the force and a veteran in her faith, Louis says she'll keep praying.

"It's going to be hard, I guarantee you that it's going to be hard. Just prayer and knowing that God is there, they're going to get through it."

Louis has yet to actually speak with Kyle, but she plans to meet him and hug him and pray with him again.


About the Author:

Layron Livingston made the move from Ohio's Miami Valley to Miami, Florida, to join the Local 10 News team.