Milwaukee fatal Christmas shooting; family remembers teen victim
MILWAUKEE - The family of a Milwaukee teen killed on Christmas morning, Dec. 25, is celebrating her life.
Balloons, candles, prayers and memories are how 18-year-old Nayah Vasquez's family is paying tribute to her. She's one of two people shot and killed near 37th and Scott. It happened just before 11:30 a.m.
Under a dark Milwaukee sky on Sunday, Dec. 29, candles for Vasquez burned bright.
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"Nayah was sweet, she was beautiful, she was outgoing," her mother Rebecca Zepeda said. "She was everything. She didn’t deserve this."
Exziel Rivera and Nayah Vasquez
On Sunday, loved ones gather near 37th and South for a vigil in her honor.
Police say Vasquez was in a car with 15-year-old Exziel Rivera when someone opened fire. Rivera died on the scene. Vasquez died at the hospital.
Family members say they don't understand how a day that started so well ended in tragedy.
"I had just spoke to her on the phone, she was proud to show me her outfits that she got for Christmas," said Rodolfo Zepeda, Vasquez’s grandfather.
Witnesses say they saw two people running away from the scene after the shooting.
"She kissed me, and she said, ‘mama, I’ll be back’ and she never came back," Rebecca Zepeda said.
Teens killed on Christmas, Milwaukee community mourns
A Milwaukee community is mourning the deaths of two teens who were shot and killed on Christmas.
Witnesses say they saw two people running away from the scene after the shooting.
Her loved ones say they don't know how she ended up at what they're calling the wrong place at the wrong time.
"She wasn’t with none of that drama stuff, she was just with the wrong crowd," Rebecca Zepeda said.
Now in their search for answers, her family said they want the people responsible to pay.
"They took something from us on that day, and we have to remember this for the rest of our lives. It’s horrible," Rodolfo Zepeda said.
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Family say the 18-year-old dreamed of having a family and kids and that she wanted to become a veterinarian.
Now in mourning and living on memories, her mother wears this necklace to hold her daughter near.
"I love her, and I’ll never forget about her," Rebecca Zepeda said. "I’ll always keep her alive. That’s my baby."
Police are still investigating this shooting. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Milwaukee Police Department at 414-935-7360 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS or use the P3 Tips app.