A young girl was shot and killed after leaving a house party on Mother’s Day.
17-year-old Desiree Rivas was a Cesar Chavez High School student and cheerleader from Arizona who was leaving a house party at 91st Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road near Tolleson when she was shot dead on the street outside the venue.
According to the reports, the police were called to the disturbing scene after the neighbors and the teen’s friends heard the gunshots and found Desiree bloodied outside the house where the party took place.
Unfortunately, the girl couldn’t be saved despite a quick response and the paramedics’ efforts.
As of this writing, the unidentified suspect remains at large.
“She touched so many people. I mean, you never know how relationships are at school. They come home, and they don’t talk about it because they’re doing homework and stuff like that,” Desiree’s grieving father, Danny, said as hundreds of people gathered at the teen’s vigil on May 15.
“This brought my spirits up a little bit. I have to make it through this week to make sure that everything goes well for her because I want to send her off properly.”
Recalling the shocking incident that rocked the community was also a neighbor who heard the gunshots ring out in the early hours of Sunday.
“It’s just sad, you know, especially on Mother’s Day something like this happening. I was telling my kids, bullets doesn’t have a name on them. Bullets can go to anyone,” she said.
“She did have friends that did stay behind and assist her, and I was there with her. We couldn’t sleep at all last night. I couldn’t sleep at all. I kept thinking about the mother and what she was going through.”
Another local, April Stokes, also recalled the gunshots saying they were so loud it felt like it was all happening right in her yard.
One resident further told the media that they heard “five, maybe six shots” coming from two different guns.
“It sounded pretty close. I wasn’t able to sleep with the chopper up, going around for about five hours or so,” the neighbor said.
Meanwhile, Desiree’s high school paid the teenager a touching tribute in which they named her a “beloved alumni member” and a part of the school’s cheerleading team.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic news of the passing of Desiree Rivas. Desiree was a beloved member of our alumni and a member of our cheer team,” the Cesar Chavez High School statement read.
“She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. Desiree passed away after being a victim of a senseless act of violence last weekend.
“She loved her classmates and was a compassionate and caring member of our student community. At this time, we share our love, support and sympathy with Desiree’s family and friends. Every time we lose a member of the Chavez family, it’s heartbreaking and has far-reaching implications.”
Our thoughts are with Desiree’s loved ones during this challenging time.
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