LEBANON, IL (FOX2now.com) -
An 11 year old Lebanon, Illinois boy and his mother died when a family member went on a shooting rampage in Alabama. Friends say the fifth grader who died had two big dreams: to either be President or a rock star.
"At the beginning of the school year he introduced himself and said, 'I'm Robert Beaty and I'm gonna be President someday," recalls Lebanon Elementary principal Dr. Karen Buehler.
A sad Will Layman has the same memory. "But now, he can't live his dream," said the 11 year old Wednesday night, outside First United Methodist Church of Lebanon, where a prayer vigil was held for Bobby and his mother, Karen.
"Bobby was an only child, and to Karen Beaty, Bobby was her life," says Buehler.
The suspected gunman is Karen's brother, Kevin Gardner. Police say he was getting a divorce in Lauderdale County, Alabama. Karen and Bobby went to help. They were at her estranged sister in law's house Tuesday, when police say Gardner arrived, armed. He allegedly shot his soon-to-be ex wife, his 16 year old daughter, Karen, and Bobby.
"I feel mad and sad at the same time," says Layman.
On the Beaty's front porch on Center Street in Lebanon is a single red rose. It is a small town, and many residents showed up at Wednesday night's memorial. They asked for privacy as they prayed, not allowing cameras or reporters inside, but even from the outside you could sense the loss. Young boy scouts hugged and Bobby's basketball teammates cried.
It seemed practically everyone knows the Beatys. And knowing them is loving them.
"At least he's in a happier, safer, better place than in this world," says 11 year old Jacob Boyster, another of Bobby's best friends.
"He was a very nice friend. He will be missed very much," he says.
"At the beginning of the school year he introduced himself and said, 'I'm Robert Beaty and I'm gonna be President someday," recalls Lebanon Elementary principal Dr. Karen Buehler.
A sad Will Layman has the same memory. "But now, he can't live his dream," said the 11 year old Wednesday night, outside First United Methodist Church of Lebanon, where a prayer vigil was held for Bobby and his mother, Karen.
"Bobby was an only child, and to Karen Beaty, Bobby was her life," says Buehler.
The suspected gunman is Karen's brother, Kevin Gardner. Police say he was getting a divorce in Lauderdale County, Alabama. Karen and Bobby went to help. They were at her estranged sister in law's house Tuesday, when police say Gardner arrived, armed. He allegedly shot his soon-to-be ex wife, his 16 year old daughter, Karen, and Bobby.
"I feel mad and sad at the same time," says Layman.
On the Beaty's front porch on Center Street in Lebanon is a single red rose. It is a small town, and many residents showed up at Wednesday night's memorial. They asked for privacy as they prayed, not allowing cameras or reporters inside, but even from the outside you could sense the loss. Young boy scouts hugged and Bobby's basketball teammates cried.
It seemed practically everyone knows the Beatys. And knowing them is loving them.
"At least he's in a happier, safer, better place than in this world," says 11 year old Jacob Boyster, another of Bobby's best friends.
"He was a very nice friend. He will be missed very much," he says.
