Candlelight Vigil Held For 14-Year-Old Gunned Down While Watching Fireworks
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — An emotional candlelight vigil was held Thursday evening outside the South Los Angeles home where a 14-year-old was gunned down on July 4th while watching fireworks.
A new $10,000 reward also was offered Thursday as police continued to hunt for Unique Russell's killer.
The teen was shot outside her grandmother's home, and friends and family gathered there to deal with their grief and anger.
CBS2 and KCAL9 reporter Juan Fernandez was there as family and friends held hands, lit candles, said prayers and shared stories of loss.
Russell and two friends were hit by gunfire. The two friends are expected to make a full recovery.
A week after the shooting, police acknowledge they have few leads.
Witnesses said two men, aged 18 to 25, fled the scene. The suspects were seen running south on Normandie.
The girl's mother, Donna Wade, made a plea to the community. "Somebody knows something," she said. "Come out."
She misses her daughter and doesn't want another mother to feel her pain. "This has to stop," Wade said. "Killing our babies has to stop."
At the end of the vigil Thursday evening, organizers set off fireworks. They called it a fitting tribute to a young girl they said was a spark in so many lives.
