Pink ribbons lined the trees and light posts around Glenbard North High School on Wednesday as friends and former classmates gathered to honor Giana Dettloff.
Dettloff, 19, of Carol Stream, was killed at a backyard Halloween party in Bloomington on Nov. 1. Eight others were wounded in the shooting, according to police. Dettloff, a 2026 Glenbard North graduate and North Central College freshman, had been visiting a friend at Illinois Wesleyan University when gunfire erupted, NBC Chicago reported.
A public visitation is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 5, at Glenbard North, 990 Kuhn Road in Carol Stream, starting at 6 p.m. Attendees have been asked to wear pink, Dettloff's favorite color.
Carol Stream Mayor Frank Saverino and his wife, Debbie, attended the Wednesday gathering. The Saverinos said they have known the Dettloff family for years and that the family has deep ties to Carol Stream, ABC 7 Chicago reported.
"This young lady not only went through the high school but come back and helped younger kids through the cheer. She's a phenomenal person," Mayor Saverino said, according to ABC 7.
Dettloff was a cheerleader at both Glenbard North and North Central College. She also coached younger girls in the sport. She was her family's only daughter.
Tracy Szajda with Carol Stream Panthers Cheerleading described Dettloff's drive in WGN's coverage: "She was hardworking, a go-getter, and knew what she wanted."
Glenbard North Principal John Mensik called Dettloff one of the standout students he encountered during his two decades at the school, WGN reported.
Glenbard High School District 87 Superintendent Jessica Santee said in a Nov. 1 statement that the school community was deeply saddened. "Our connection to students doesn't end when they graduate, they will always remain part of our school community," Santee said, according to the Daily Herald.
A GoFundMe campaign titled "Honoring Giana's Life and Legacy," organized by Kristyn Lawrence, has been established to help the Dettloff family with funeral expenses and a lasting memorial, according to Glancer Magazine. As we reported Nov. 3, the fundraiser had already topped $98,000.
No arrests have been made. Bloomington police said detectives are still following up on leads and could not comment on whether a person of interest has been identified. Two shooting victims remained hospitalized in stable condition as of Wednesday, according to The Pantagraph. Six others had been released.
