Dad recounts son's heroic actions when NIU gunman struck

Days after his death, Dan Parmenter is still making his father proud.

The 20-year-old sophomore from Westchester was one of five people shot and killed at Northern Illinois University last week.

He was in the class with his girlfriend, Lauren Debrauwere, when the shooting began. Debrauwere was wounded by the gunman and remains hospitalized.

In talking with Lauren's father, Gary Parmenter learned how his son tried to comfort and protect Lauren.

"Dan and she dropped to the floor for cover, and Dan held her hands and he started praying for both of them until the time he was shot," Gary Parmenter said.

"Everyone feels the loss as if he was a son or brother to them," he added. "His mother, sister and I have are just overwhelmed by the sympathy and support of immediate friends and the circle of friends that extends from the state and nation in expressing their feeling of loss for Dan and all five students."

Parmenter said Lauren's father detailed his daughter's recollections just hours before visitation took place Monday at Hursen Funeral Home in Hillside in honor of Dan Parmenter.

The six-hour service was attended by more than a thousand people. An overflow throng of mourners huddled outside the funeral home, waiting their turn to pay respects to the family. Once inside, it was another two hours to get to the Parmenters to express condolences.

"We just wanted them to know they're in our prayers," said Dawn Ricordati, whose two daughters went to high school with Dan. "I'm not surprised to see so many people; Dan was a good kid. He was special."

Dan Parmenter's funeral today will be preceded by another visitation from 1 to 2 p.m. at Christ Church, 31st Street and York Road in Oak Brook.

A final 11 a.m. service will be held Wednesday in at the Taylor Ridge Methodist Church in Taylor Ridge near the Quad Cities. Gary Parmenter said his family is from that part of the state, and his son will be laid to rest alongside Dan's grandparents and great-grandparents.

Mark Debrauwere planned to attend Monday's visitation to meet his daughter's boyfriend's family.

He said his 19-year-old daughter remembers everything that happened Thursday when a stranger opened fire in the lecture hall.

She told her father she and Parmenter were sitting near the front of the class when the gunman appeared on the stage and opened fire at the instructor. She never had time to run, he said.

Lauren was shot twice -- once in the hip and once in the abdomen -- after Parmenter was shot and killed.

She was conscious when she arrived at the hospital, her father said.

"She knew what had happened," Mark Debrauwere said. "She just said her stomach hurt, 'Please make it stop.' "

He said his daughter, who was later airlifted to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, is expected to make a full recovery and may be released from the hospital soon.

"How long the mental side of it (will take), I don't know," he said.