Hadiya Pendleton's mother to attend State of the Union

Scott Olson / Getty Images

Cleopatra Cowley, arriving with her son Nathaniel for the wake of her 15-year-old daughter Hadiya Pendleton.

By Tracy Connor, Staff Writer, NBC News

The mother of Chicago gun-violence victim Hadiya Pendleton will attend the State of the Union address as a guest of First Lady Michelle Obama, who attended the 15-year-old's funeral over the weekend, White House aides said Monday.

Cleopatra Cowley's presence in the House of Representatives chamber is certain to focus even more attention on the issue of gun-control as President Obama delivers his annual address to the country.

Earlier in the day, Cowley and her husband, Nate Anthony Pendleton, will attend Illinois Sen. Richard Durbin's hearing on gun safety, NBCChicago.com reported.

Their daughter was shot dead two weeks ago while hanging out with friends in a park near school, just days after she returned from a trip to Washington D.C., where she performed at inaugural events.

Police believe Hadiya was the innocent victim of a gang member who mistakenly thought the teens were rivals on his turf. Two people are being questioned in the case but no one has been charged.

The majorette quickly became a figure in the national debate over guns and a symbol of Chicago's stubborn murder rate. The day after the slaying, Durbin mentioned Pendleton during a hearing on guns and the White House said the Obamas were praying for her family.

The First Lady even met privately with the teen's family and friends before her funeral Saturday, which was attended by hundreds of people, including Education Secretary Arne Duncan,?Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

President Obama is also scheduled to visit Chicago on Friday to speak about guns and the economy.

Related:

?Flashpoint: Guns in America?: An NBC News special report

How to watch the State of the Union with NBC News

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Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/11/16927519-shooting-victim-hadiya-pendletons-mother-to-attend-state-of-the-union?lite

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