Tributes poured in for a teenage cheerleader from Arizona, who was shot and killed as she left a house party on Mother’s Day.
Desiree Rivas, 17, was shot dead on Sunday morning near Tolleson, Arizona, as neighbors described hearing gunshots ring out and then rushing to help the girl.
Police were called to 91st Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road just after midnight where they found the teenage girl’s lifeless body.
The teenager, who attended Cesar Chavez High School and was an avid cheerleader, was surrounded by friends and local residents when cops arrived on the scene.
The suspect, or suspects, remain at large, cops confirmed.
Desiree Rivas, 17, was shot dead in the early hours of Sunday morning near Tolleson, Arizona
The beloved high school student is remembered by family and friends
About 200 of her devastated friends and family gathered on May 15 for a vigil to pay their respects to the young cheerleader. His teammates described their hearts as “broken into a million pieces”.
Members of his team performed his favorite routine, while others released balloons in his memory.
Her father Danny Rivas said at the vigil: “She touched so many people. I mean, you never know how the relationships are at school. They come home and they don’t talk about it because they’re doing homework and stuff like that.
“It lifted my spirits a bit. I have to spend this week making sure everything is going well for her because I want to send her back properly.
A neighbour, who spoke to AzFamily, said: ‘It’s just sad, you know, especially on Mother’s Day, something like this happens. I used to tell my kids that the balls don’t have names on them. Bullets can hit anyone.
Desiree Rivasm (left) was found dead on 91st Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road just after midnight on Sunday
About 200 of her devastated friends and family gathered on May 15 for a vigil to pay their respects to the young cheerleader. His teammates described their hearts as being ‘broken into a million pieces’
The local resident said she went out to help and saw the victim lying on the ground.
They added: “She had friends who stayed behind and helped 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.
A resident, April Stokes, recalled hearing gunshots at the scene in the early hours of Sunday morning.
She said FOX10: ‘I was in bed and I heard these gunshots, and they were loud. Looks like they were just in my backyard. They were so loud.
“I was afraid to get up because I didn’t know where they were coming from because they seemed so close.”
She said she saw teenagers running across the street from house to house after hearing the gunshots.
Police have yet to arrest any suspects in connection with the shooting.
Another local resident added: ‘I heard five, maybe six shots, two different guns, you know. It sounded pretty close. I couldn’t sleep with the helicopter up, I shot for about five hours.
Police have yet to arrest any suspects in connection with the shooting.
Desiree’s cheering team wrote online: ‘It is with the heaviest of hearts that I post about the tragic loss of our amazing friend, athlete and student Desiree. Our hearts are broken into a million pieces’
The teenager is pictured here in college cheerleading attire
His heartbroken family and friends held a vigil in his memory
His family and friends launched balloons in his memory
Her high school, Cesar Chavez, said in a statement: “It is with deep 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 team of encouragement.
“She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. Désirée died after being the 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.
“Each time we lose a member of the Chavez family, it’s heartbreaking and it has profound implications.”
Desiree’s cheering team wrote online: ‘It is with the heaviest of hearts that I post about the tragic loss of our amazing friend, athlete and student Desiree. Our hearts are broken into a million pieces.
‘May Dessy rest in peace and be surrounded by love and light. We love you, Desiree.
