The Brooklyn funeral home was packed with hundreds on Saturday as people gathered to remember Aland Etienne, a security guard who was fatally shot on Park Avenue.
Rachel Paoli, Etienne’s fiancée and Lalandi’s mother, spoke movingly about him, saying, “You were the love of my life and the father of my son. Words can’t express the void you’ve left.” She added that they had dreams of buying a house, sending their son to college, and watching him pursue his ambition of becoming an astronaut.
Etienne had four children in total, including his young son. He made the move from Haiti to the U.S. in 2017, seeking a better life for his family.
A family member shared, “Aland wasn’t just a brother; he was a friend and a protector. If you knew him, his energy was unforgettable.” They lamented the senseless violence that took him too soon, emphasizing all that he offered to those around him.
During the service, Etienne’s mother, Marie, cried out his name in anguish. Public figures, including Mayor Adams and U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, were present, paying their respects along with over 300 others.
“Aland’s life was tragically cut short by senseless violence, and his family lost someone truly loving and generous,” Mayor Adams reflected after the service.
Etienne was one of four victims of a mass shooting at NFL headquarters on July 28, where a suspect opened fire at 345 Park Avenue. The other victims included Blackstone executive Wesley Repatner and NYPD officer Didalur Islam, among others.
His family praised him as a hero for his courageous actions in his final moments. “He chose bravery over fear,” they said, noting how he sought to protect others.
Having moved to Brooklyn, Etienne reconnected with Paoli, a former classmate from his teen years in Haiti. Their relationship blossomed, welcoming Lalandi into the world, alongside three other children he had from a previous relationship.
Pained by the loss, Paoli concluded, “You were always someone I could rely on.”
