GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — On the death anniversary of Alana Vasquez, her family and police are still asking people to come forward with answers.
She was killed at a car meetup back in September 2023. Her death anniversary comes days after a car meetup on Pearl Street in Grand Rapids lead to the arrest of one person.
“We've seen pedestrians hit by vehicles. We have seen vehicles get in very serious crashes, and then, of course, we've seen things as terrible as murder,” Police Chief Eric Winstrom.
Chief Winstrom says the car meetups have been popping up everywhere since the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
He says while there aren’t as many as last summer, they are still happening.
Most recently, an arrest was made at a car meet up on Pearl Street over the weekend.
"We did make one arrest, which is not as many participants as there were, but it's a good start, and we recognize how extremely dangerous they are, not only for the drivers of the vehicles, but for those who are just watching,” said Chief Winstrom.
That sentiment is something the family of Vasquez says they are now preaching.
“Her personality was exquisite. I mean, she was just a, you know, gentle, innocent young, young lady about to start her life, and was taken away,” said Perla Guevara.
Her family says the 19 year old was walking back to her car during a car meetup when she became a victim of gun violence.
Guevara and her family want others, especially the younger generation, to know how dangerous these meet ups can be.
"Parents, if you guys know that your children or your kids or your nieces or nephews are going out there. I mean, I bring awareness to them and tell them that it's very dangerous and can be very dangerous for them to be there,” said Guevara.
She and the chief say details are limited of what happened the night of Alana’s death, which is why they are asking people to come forward.
"Alana was 19 years old, so just a child in my eyes, really and absolute tragedy. It's frustrating because there were so many people there, and we haven't had the cooperation from the public that we need,” said Chief Winstrom.
"We get more frustrated about is just not having the answers that we want. You know, for closure, because the person who did this is still out there,” said Guevara.