Arizona cheerleader, 17, shot, killed leaving home celebration

An Arizona highschool cheerleader was shot and killed after she left a home celebration Sunday morning.

Officers responded to a taking pictures in Tolleson, a suburb 13 miles exterior of Phoenix, and located 17-year-old Desiree Rivas useless on the scene, according to KPNX-TV.

Rivas, a scholar at Cesar Chavez Excessive Faculty in close by Laveen Village, was a beloved scholar and energetic member of the college’s spirit line.

“It’s with the heaviest of hearts that I submit in regards to the tragic lack of our wonderful buddy, athlete, and scholar Desiree. Our hearts are damaged into 1,000,000 items.” the Cesar Chavez Excessive Faculty Spirit line stated in a statement on Instagram. “Might Dessy relaxation in peace and be surrounded by love and lightweight. We love you, Desiree.”

Police stated a suspect stays unidentified whereas they examine what led to the taking pictures.

Neighbors recalled listening to the taking pictures and speeding to assist Rivas.

“I used to be within the mattress and I heard these gunshots, they usually had been loud. It looks like they had been proper in my yard. They had been so loud,” April Stokes told FOX10. “I used to be scared to rise up as a result of I didn’t know the place they had been coming from, since they sounded so shut.”

“She did have mates that did keep behind and help her, and I used to be there together with her,” one neighbor told CBS 5 after seeing Rivas. “We couldn’t sleep in any respect final night time. I couldn’t sleep in any respect. I stored enthusiastic about the mom and what she was going via,” she stated.

Faculty officers confirmed the dying of Rivas in a statement sent to households earlier this week.

“Expensive Cesar Chavez Households, It’s with deep disappointment that we share the tragic information in regards to the passing of Desiree Rivas,” stated Principal Robert Grant. “Desiree was a beloved member of our scholar physique and an energetic member of our spirit line. She might be deeply missed by all those that knew and cherished her.”

“Desiree handed away after being the sufferer of a mindless act of violence this previous weekend. She cherished her friends and was a compassionate and caring member of our scholar neighborhood. At the moment, we share our love, assist, and sympathy with Desiree’s household and mates.”

A vigil was held for Rivas as greater than 50 mates, household and classmates gathered to mourn on Monday.

“She touched so many individuals. I imply, you by no means understand how relationships are at college. They arrive residence, they usually don’t speak about it as a result of they’re doing homework and stuff like that,” her father Danny Rivas stated on the vigil according to FOX10. “This introduced my spirits up slightly bit. I’ve to make it via this week to guarantee that the whole lot goes nicely for her as a result of I wish to ship her off correctly.”