Forty-nine people died in the tragic Orlando nightclub shooting two weeks ago. That’s forty-nine people with forty-nine different lives, which reached out in every direction, including into the nerdverse. One of those taken too soon was 22 year-old Luis Vielma, an employee at the Orlando-based Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park, specifically the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride.
Days after his death, his coworkers and guests gathered for a vigil in his memory, during which they held up their light-up Potter magic wands.
And finally, a fellow Potter fan Brandon Anderson created a Funko Pop! Vinyl figurine of Vielma, decked out in Gryffindor uniform complete with magic wand. Anderson created the figurine himself, using a D.I.Y. (blank) Funko base body. He even went so far as to customize the box, emulating the style of commercially available Pop! Vinyls.
The figure isn’t for sale, as Anderson is attempting to contact Vielma’s family to give it to them.
Wouldn’t it be cool if Funko actually released a run of these with benefits going to benefit the families and loved ones of the shooting victims?