Tributes have poured in for a teenage cheerleader from Arizona, who was gunned down and killed as she was leaving a house party on Mother’s Day.
Desiree Rivas, 17, was shot dead in the early hours of Sunday morning near Tolleson, Arizona, as neighbors described hearing gunshots ringing 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 teen, who attended Cesar Chavez High School and was a keen cheerleader, was surrounded by friends and local residents when cops arrived at the scene.
The suspect, or suspects, are still at large, cops confirmed.
Desiree Rivas, 17, was shot dead in the early hours of Sunday morning near Tolleson, Arizona
The beloved high schooler was remembered fondly by her family and friends
Around 200 of her devastated friends and family gathered on May 15 for a vigil to pay their respects to the young cheerleader. Her teammates described their hearts being ‘broken into a million pieces.’
Members of her squad performed her favorite routine, while others released balloons in her memory.
Her father Danny Rivas said at the vigil: ‘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.
‘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.’
One neighbor, who spoke to AzFamily, said: ‘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.’
Desiree Rivasm (left) was found dead on 91st Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road just after midnight on Sunday
Around 200 of her devastated friends and family gathered on May 15 for a vigil to pay their respects to the young cheerleader. Her teammates described their hearts being ‘broken into a million pieces’
The local resident said that she went outside to help, and saw the victim lying on the ground.
They added: ‘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.’
One resident, April Stokes, recalled hearing gunshots at the scene in the early hours of Sunday morning.
She told FOX10: ‘I was in the bed and I heard these gun shots, and they were loud. It seems like they were right in my yard. They were so loud.
‘I was scared to get up because I didn’t know where they were coming from, since they sounded so close.’
She said that she saw teenage boys running from across the street, from one house to the other, after hearing the gunshots.
Police have not yet arrested any suspects in connection to the shooting.
Another local resident added: ‘I heard five, maybe six shots, two different guns, you know. It sounded pretty close. I wasn’t able to sleep with the chopper up, going around for about five hours or so.’
Desiree’s cheer 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 a cheerleading varsity outfit
Her heartbroken family and friends hosted a vigil in her memory
Her high school, Cesar Chavez, said in a statement: ‘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.
‘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.’
Desiree’s cheer 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.’