Young Wizards Raise Their Wands to Honor Orlando Victims at Harry Potter Theme Park

In the wake of the tragic Orlando shooting on Sunday night, the identity of one of the fallen became clear: Luis Vielma, a 22-year-old who worked at Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park. Author J.K. Rowling has been vocal about her sadness at the loss, and the theme park also held a vigil to remember him Tuesday night.

“Every guest he came across, he created a magic for them that can never be compared to anything in this world,” says a friend in an emotional video. And, in the mourning tradition of the Harry Potter universe, wands were raised to honor him. In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, it’s a motion used to collectively recognize the great Albus Dumbledore at his funeral. But it’s also become a part of how Harry Potter fans mourn their own: when actor Alan Rickman, who played Professor Severus Snape in the Harry Potter movies, passed away in January, wands were raised around the world.