Soldier killed in Niger ambush laid to rest in Florida

Loved ones gathered in south Florida to honor Army Sgt. La David Johnson on Saturday, a little over two weeks after he was killed on patrol in Niger. 

Roughly 1,000 people attended a private service for Johnson at Christ the Rock Community Church in Cooper City, before the soldier was laid to rest in Hollywood Memorial Gardens, according to CNN. 

Sgt. La David Johnson, who was killed in Niger, will be laid to rest on Sat. as loved ones gather for his funeral https://t.co/u9l34V5bO8 pic.twitter.com/jAYeIcq4oq

— CBS News (@CBSNews) October 21, 2017 

The coffin carrying Sgt. La David Johnson – draped in the US flag – is carried into the church ahead of his 11a funeral service. pic.twitter.com/9NcDr2n5N1

— Craig Stanley (@_CraigStanley) October 21, 2017

HEARTBREAKING PHOTOS: Sgt. La David Johnson’s burial service at the Hollywood Memorial Gardens East cemetery https://t.co/U3um6rbd3a pic.twitter.com/IroosZL5Nx

— WPLG Local 10 News (@WPLGLocal10) October 21, 2017

Johnson leaves behind two small children and his wife Myeshia, who is six months pregnant.  

Myeshia Johnson kisses the casket of her husband Army Sgt. La David Johnson who was killed in Niger https://t.co/88SsCuKXXS :@jraedle pic.twitter.com/n8n1q7ofc7

— Getty Images News (@GettyImagesNews) October 21, 2017

Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) ordered flags across the state to be flown at half-staff on Friday. 

Johnson and three other soldiers were killed in an ambush earlier this month in Niger by suspected self-radicalized Islamic militants. 

The Pentagon confirmed Johnson had been killed in the ambush days after the attack was reported. 

{mosads}The fallen soldier and his family became the center of a public firestorm between the Trump administration and Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) after the congresswoman revealed to various news outlets that she overheard Trump tell the widow of Johnson that her late husband “knew what he signed up for … but when it happens it hurts anyway.”

Trump slammed Wilson in a tweet on Saturday, but he has not yet tweeted about Johnson being laid to rest.  

I hope the Fake News Media keeps talking about Wacky Congresswoman Wilson in that she, as a representative, is killing the Democrat Party!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 21, 2017