FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Holding a square-shaped balloon and pink roses, Gabby Lugo smiled Sunday as she hugged the good Samaritan who helped her and her mom after a shooting Friday at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Wren Newman, the good Samaritan, not only drove Gabby and her mom from Port Everglades after the shooting Friday, she also led a social media mission to find the 11-year-old girl after she left her book bag in the backseat of the car.
On Sunday morning, Gabby got her book bag back thanks to Local 10 News social media followers who'd shared the story.
"You are such a blessing," Gabby's mom said.
"Anybody would have done the same thing," Newman said.
Gabby and her mom were returning home from a trip to South Carolina when the shooting that left five people dead and six injured took place.
The mother and daughter were taken to Port Everglades, along with thousands of other passengers, as investigators collected evidence from the airport.
As they walked away from the port, trying to hail a cab, Newman drove by and decided to pick up the duo. She brought them to a location by Florida's Turnpike and Commercial Boulevard where Gabby's dad, Joe Lugo picked, them up.
When Newman got home from dropping the duo off, she realized that Gabby left her book bag in the car – and that’s when she reached out to Local 10 News to see if someone could help locate Gabby.
Newman's story was posted on Local10.com, along with the station's social media accounts.
Before long, one of Lugo’s friend’s caught wind of the story, and contacted Joe Lugo, Gabby’s dad.
The rest is history.
Gabby said the book bag contained a jacket and some Christmas presents.
Standing in the lobby of Newman’s building, both parties held back tears as they hugged, exchanged hellos and promised to remain Facebook friends.
"Not everyone in the world is bad," Lugo said.
Newman smiled and agreed.
"This was a random act of kindness, and we have these opportunities every day," she later told Local 10 News.
Newman said she's thankful to have been able to help the family.