Phoenix PD hopes YouTube will help solve teen girl's murder

Funeral services for a 16-year-old girl who was shot to death in her friend's truck in Phoenix have been scheduled for Thursday.

Melissa Vigil was shot to death last Tuesday morning while on her way home from a barbecue at a house near 22nd and Southern avenues.

According to Sergeant Tommy Thompson, the driver of the truck Vigil was in missed a turn and when he backed up near 22nd Avenue and Hidalgo Street when several unidentified black males came out of a house and at least one of them shot at the truck.

Officers tell ABC15 the suspects were not at the party. Its still unclear whether they knew the victim or her friends.

Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Lowmans Arizona Funeral Home at 717 W. Dobbins Road in Phoenix.

The funeral mass will take place at 11 a.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church at
6200 S. Central Avenue, Phoenix.

The burial will follow at East Resthaven Park Cemetery at 4310 E. Southern Avenue in Phoenix.

A memorial fund has been set up to help with funeral costs. The account has been set up at the Arizona Federal Credit Union, account #752649.

Phoenix police held a town hall style meeting Thursday night in an effort to generate new leads in the murder.

"It terrifies me," said a community member attending the meeting.

It was standing room only as the south Phoenix community came together inside a church near 19th Avenue and Roeser Road.

"When I heard multiple gun shots the other night, I just wanted to get out there and kill them," said another community member.

Elected officials and police came together to tell family, friends and concerned neighbors that they need to be the eyes and ears of south Phoenix.

"The neighborhood where she was shot in is known for their gangs," said Elizabeth Vigil, Melissa's cousin.

Police also asked ABC15 to post a YouTube video about Melissa Vigil's death in an effort to reach out to younger people who may not watch the news or visit news sites.

There is up to a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in this case.

Silent Witness is also posting another video Friday on YouTube in an effort to drum up more leads.

"Everybody ducked and when it was over, everybody got up, but Melissa," said Arcenia Guzman, the victim's aunt, when remembering the shooting.

Police said Melissa, the daughter of an ABC15 employee, was struck in the head.

Vigil's friends drove her to the South Mountain Police Precinct at about 12:50 a.m.

An officer performed CPR until she was taken to the hospital in extremely critical condition.

What concerns Melissa's family most, is knowing there are people willing to shoot at random out on the streets of Phoenix.

"It's unfortunate that there are still people in these areas of town that are just willing to shoot a vehicle, not knowing what angels that are inside of it," said Holguin.

Family members said the 16-year-old had an infectious smile and was a good student who would help anyone.

"She loved family, family was her most important thing," said Holguin.

"Her best friend, Stephanie, unfortunately, was there and had to hold her and watch her while she passed away," said another aunt, Kathleen Holguin.

Wednesday afternoon, police passed out fliers in the neighborhood where the deadly shooting occurred and spoke to residents about the crime.

Police are confident someone in the area knows who is responsible.

"They need to take a stand against this," said Sgt. Paul Penzone with the Silent Witness program. "We as a police department and as a community need to send a message that we're not going to stand by and let people be gunned down in our streets."

Anyone who might have seen this incident or who might have information concerning it is encouraged to call the Phoenix Police Department Violent Crimes Bureau at (602) 262-6141 or SILENT WITNESS at (480) W-I-T-N-E-S-S. For Spanish, call (480) T-E-S-T-I-G-O.

Friends of the Vigil family held a car wash to raise money for funeral expenses on Saturday at Cesar Chavez High School in Laveen.

http://www.abc15.com/content/news/phoenixmetro/story.aspx?content_id=6AC8DF6B...

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[cachetonankills]

fuck who ever said shes in hell! melissa was mah girl <3 now shes gone & you think thats funny! f%&# you. we miss you ma!

[jettercat]

@cachetonankills Removed & blocked them. Thanks for the asshole alert & sorry for your loss, man.

[SPIKEWRB]

navajokid6 - ok you must not be a parent cause a mother would die for her child and killed for her to be safe! so shut ur fucking mouth and mind ur own

[jettercat]

I didn't even realize that comment was here. Thanks Spike.

"She went as low as the shooter"... with angry words? LAWD have mercy, she should be angry about punks murdering children in her neighborhood, ay?

[southside4life88]

@wsesssns it wasnt nobody from liindo stupid ass...fake ass blood

[choloskater96]

the guy sighning with the black shert was ma pops RIP dad

[IMME01234567]

omg i knew her she was in my computer class and we were talking about doing something that weekend

[supafly85204]

i knew that girls cousin.....

[GoonSquadEmrg1]

Yuhh rite! Lyndo is no hood to fuck wihtt!

Buhtt its broadway gangsters on mine!

[aneelguillen]

Being a native of the southside of Phx.... you know not to go to Lindo park area if your Mexican........

[wsesssns]

its was them niggers from lindo park!!!!! fuck them crabs

[MrsRadke21396]

i freakin live in phoenix arizona my nana lives near there!!!!! freakin asshole why the hell would u do that shiT!!!!!