Tributes have poured in for a teenage Arizona cheerleader who was shot and killed as she left a house party on Mother’s Day.
Desiree Rivas, 17, was shot to death near Tolleson, Arizona, in the early hours of Sunday morning when neighbors described hearing gunshots 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 an avid cheerleader, was surrounded by friends and local residents when police arrived on the scene.
The suspect, or suspects, are still on the run, police confirmed.
Desiree Rivas, 17, was shot dead early Sunday morning near Tolleson, Arizona
The beloved high school student was fondly remembered by her family and friends
About 200 of her devastated friends and family gathered for a vigil on May 15 to pay their respects to the young cheerleader. Her teammates described their hearts as “broken into a million pieces.”
Members of her team performed her favorite routine, while others released balloons in her memory.
Her father Danny Rivas said at the wake, “She touched so many people. I mean, you never know what relationships are like in school. They come home and don’t talk about it because they do homework and things like that.
“This made me a little happier. I need to get through this week to make sure she’s okay, because I want to send her off properly.”
A neighbor who spoke AzFamily, said, ‘It’s just sad, you know, especially on Mother’s Day something like this happens. I told my kids that bullets have no name. Bullets can go to anyone.’
Desiree Rivasm (left) was found dead just after midnight on Sunday at 91st Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road
About 200 of her devastated friends and family gathered for a vigil on May 15 to pay their respects to the young cheerleader. Her teammates described their hearts as “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 who stayed behind and helped her, and I was 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 in the early hours of Sunday morning.
She said FOX10: “I was lying in bed and I heard these gunshots, and they were loud. It looks like they were in my garden. They were so loud.
“I was afraid to get up because I didn’t know where they came from because they sounded so close.”
She said she saw teenage boys running from across the street, from one house to the next, after hearing the gunshots.
Police have not yet arrested 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 was on the road for about five hours.’
The Desiree cheerleading team wrote online, “It is with the heaviest of hearts that I post about the tragic loss of our wonderful friend, athlete and student Desiree. Our hearts are broken into a million pieces’
The teen is pictured here in a cheerleading varsity outfit
Her heartbroken family and friends organized a vigil in her memory
Her high school senior, Cesar Chavez: “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 cheer team.
“She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. Desiree passed away last weekend after becoming a victim of senseless violence.
“She loved her classmates and was a compassionate and caring member of our student community.
“At this time, we share our love, support and compassion with Desiree’s family and friends.
“Every time we lose a member of the Chavez family, it is heartbreaking and has far-reaching consequences.”
The Desiree cheerleading team wrote online, “It is with the heaviest of hearts that I post about the tragic loss of our wonderful friend, athlete and student Desiree. Our hearts are broken into millions of pieces.
May Dessy rest in peace and be surrounded by love and light. We love you, Desiree.’