GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Grand Rapids Police ask anyone with photos or video of a meet-up involving some cars at the scene of a fatal shooting Sunday to contact them or Silent Observer.
It happened around 1:15 a.m. at Freeman Avenue and Hall Street. Police have identified the victim as 19-year-old Alana Vasquez. At the time of publication, police weren't sure yet whether Vasquez was the intended target of the shooting or not.
"The details are still emerging," GRPD Chief Eric Winstrom said in a telephone interview. "But there was some type of altercation. I'm not ready to say whether Alana was the intended target or not. But someone decided to introduce a semi-automatic handgun into the situation; fired numerous rounds. And she was struck and, tragically, killed."
Chief Winstrom tells WOOD Radio a big purpose of the meet-ups entails people using cellphones to take videos of them showing off their stunt driving.
"So, we think there is probably a lot of video evidence out there. We think the video evidence will also contain a lot of illegal driving. Probably disorderly conduct, open alcohol, things like that. Maybe drug use," he said.
Winstrom said in a written statement (from a news release) that people shouldn't worry about providing police with photos at the scene, where reckless driving or alcohol consumption may have been involved. He said, "We are focused on information that will lead to justice for Alana and her loved ones, not retroactively investigating these minor crimes, and we need the community's help to do that."
The investigation by the Major Case Team is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Grand Rapids Police Department or Silent Observer. Detectives can be reached at (616) 456-3380 or tips can be sent anonymously through Silent Observer at (616) 774-2345.
"Silent Observer does not disclose sources of information to the police," Winstrom said. "We are asking for any information—witness statements, photos, videos—to help us solve the egregious murder of a teenager. That is our focus.”
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