Wizarding World worker killed in Orlando gets POP! figurine

Luis Vielma, an employee at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and a victim of the recent Orlando mass shooting, receives his own Funko Pop! Vinyl figure.

Less than two weeks ago, Luis Vielma was killed in the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Vielma was an employee at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Orlando, where he was said to love his job. His death elicited a response from Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling herself. She also sent a wreath to his funeral.

Vielma’s death touched fans, too. Many honored him by raising their wands in tribute shortly after the shooting, outside the Wizarding World attraction where Vielma worked.

Now, The Huffington Post reports that another fan has created a Funko POP! Vinyl figurine modeled after Vielma. As you can see from the photo on MuggleNet’s Facebook page, it seems to be based off Vielma’s pose in the photo J.K. Rowling tweeted out, with the addition of a wand.

Brandon Anderson of Colorado Springs, Colorado made the figurine. Although he did not know Vielma personally, he was inspired after reading a call for one on a Funko Pop! Facebook page he’s on. He ordered a blank figurine off the Funko POP! website and and got to work. He’s currently trying to get ahold of the Vielma family to give the figurine to them—he does not plan to make it available to the general public.

The Huffington Post reached out to Funko POP! for comment. The company released a statement:

Our thoughts are with Luis, his family, and everyone touched by the tragedy in Orlando.

The Harry Potter fan community is famously supportive of one another, and it’s nice to see that tradition continue here.