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St. Pete's Lakewood High School remembers hero sailor

Mohammed Haitham graduated in 2018. He sacrificed his life trying to take down the shooter at Naval Air Station Pensacola.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — There was no shortage of hugs and tears Monday on the campus of Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg.

Students and faculty were mourning the death of Mohammed Haitham. The 2018 graduate was one of three sailors killed during this past Friday’s shooting at the Naval Air Station Pensacola. Haitham is being recognized for his heroism in helping to stop the gunman in Friday’s shooting.

That’s no surprise to those who knew him.

“Muhammad was a sincere kind of soul,” said Lakewood Track Coach Anthony Snead.

Snead, who coached Haitham for years and was still close to Haitham says he still can’t believe it.

“I feel like I’m in a dream. I feel like I’m in a long nightmare,” he said.

Haitham, who graduated in 2018, was a track star for the Spartans. He played basketball too.

“I was sincerely proud of this young man,” said Snead. “He was continuing to stay on the path to success. You know, I think he’s going to be missed dearly.”

RELATED: 'Everything I do now is going to be for him': Lakewood High remembers sailor

RELATED: Security reevaluated after shooter kills 3 sailors at NAS Pensacola

Credit: Mohammad Haitham's family

Throughout the day, Pinellas schools had grief counselors available on the Lakewood High School campus for students and staff. The school is still considering its own memorial ceremony for Haitham. They’re working on details for a candlelight vigil that's likely to be held at the high school next Monday.

“Mo” as they called him, was well liked by his classmates and teachers. Respected by his teammates, and even helped manage the girls’ basketball team.

“You know, they’re sad,” said Lakewood High School Assistant Principal Susan Alvaro. 

“At this age it’s hard for them to kind of hold in their emotions. You know, he was that guy that everybody loved. That everybody knew.”

Credit: Mohammad Haitham's family

Coach Snead says Haitham was like a son to him. A rising star with unlimited potential. Now, unfortunately, he says, none of us will ever know the success he might have achieved or the man he would have become.

“Reflecting on this weekend, I can’t go to his marriage. And you know, I can’t meet his children and things like that. I think that’s what hurts the worst,” said Snead.

“Maybe that was God’s gift to us. Just this treasure amongst us,” said Alvaro. “That he was an everyday hero. Not a one moment hero, but every day he lived - he was a hero.”

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