Student hostages attend teen's funeral

MENOMINEE, Mich. - Hundreds turned out for the funeral of a Marinette High School sophomore who shot himself after taking his social studies class hostage.

Fifteen-year-old Sam Hengel held 25 students and one teacher hostage at gunpoint inside Marinette High School last Monday.

Authorties say when a SWAT team stormed the classroom, Hengel shot himself. Sunday's services were held inside Blesch Intermediate School's auditorium in Menominee, Mich.

“He was a great friend, and that's how he should be remembered,” said Aaron Stocker, a Marinette High School sophomore.

Stocker was emotional as he spoke from the heart about his friend.

But Stocker wasn't just a friend of Sam Hengel's. And he wasn't just a classmate.

He was one of the hostages.

And while his last moments with Hengel were full of fear and uncertainty, he says that won't be his last memory of him.

“As one of our better friends. And a great kid,” said Stocker. “The whole hostage thing never really add up to anything for me really. It's more the fact that he died in this, and that didn't have to happen that way.”

A feeling shared by another hostage, Zach Rastall, who says many of those 25 classmates who spent hours in a room held at gunpoint by Hengel, wanted to pay their respects.

“We're not angry at him. We feel worse for his family and we want to support his family because they're going through a much more difficult time than we are,” said Rastall.

Family friend Henry Johnston says it seems most people are compassionate with the loss of Hengel, despite the emotional roller coaster he caused last Monday night.

“The support is just overwhelming, People are just coming in by the droves, and it's just heart wrenching,” said Johnston.

Johnston, too, says that night won't be how he remembers the 15-year-old he knew for years.

“Sam was a model kid, every parent would wish they could have a kid like him. It's just a lapse that changed everything for the rest of everyone's lives,” said Johnston.

Family members asked the media to stay outside for the service, but friends describe the atmosphere inside as incredibly emotional.

“A lot of hugging. Everybody that walks in is shaking your hand, hugging them, telling them it's OK,” said Stocker.

Through comforting embraces, and the loving support of many, these people say their final goodbyes, not to the hostage taker or the gunman, but to a classmate, a friend and a loved one.

Police continue to investigate the incident. So far they do not have a motive as to why Hengel held his classroom hostage.