HOLLAND, Mich. — Cassandra Casares is being remembered as "a light" by her friends and family after she was shot and killed on Nov. 6.
Police say two cars pulled into the parking lot of Moran Park Church and parked next to each other. Shortly after, an argument broke out and shots were fired. Casares died from her injuries, and another man, who police say is her cousin, was hospitalized.
"She's, I think, the best thing that's ever happened to me... and in some ways, just because of how big her heart was, she's the best thing that happened to a lot of people," said Cassandra's sister, Ashley Sleiman, who flew in to Holland to care for her sister's husband and two children.
"She was a light. In some of her friends and people's darkest days, she was a light. She loved God. She loved her children," said Sleiman.
She says her and her sister were raised in Holland, a community that Cassandra loved.
"She just wanted to be happy. She want to live life to the fullest, and she did everything with God first. You know, I made sure that the mornings that we talked we reminded each other right before your feet hit the ground, 'Did you talk to God this morning?'" said Sleiman, laughing.
Now Sleiman and her family wait for closure as police search for 27-year-old Ramses Avimael Velasco Sanabria, a suspect in the shooting.
Sleiman says even in these circumstances, Cassandra would not want anyone responding with hatred.
"She will look at them and just say 'you know what, Ashley? You just got to pray to God and let God bless them' and whatever way that looks, she's right. As hard as it is to choke up those words, she's right. We don't replace hate for hate. We weren't taught that way," Sleiman said.
Cassandra leaves behind her husband and two children, who Sleiman says need the support of the community.
"He needs love, he needs support. His other half, his better half is here in spirit, you know, and I know that she just wants to make sure that her family is taken care of," Sleiman said.
"Anybody that was involved, just step up. Is it going to be hard? Yes, but you all had a choice. Everybody had a choice in doing the right thing. Don't be tough up until a point it's time for you to go and turn yourself in."
The obituary for Cassandra can be found here.
Police are asking for help locating Sanabria. A $2,500 reward is offered for information leading to his arrest.
He is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone who spots him or knows information about his location is asked to call 911.
You can contact the Holland Department of Public Safety at (616) 355-1150 or Silent Observer at 1-877-887-4536.
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