Exziel Rivera,Nayah Vasquez Obituary, Death; – Family members have confirmed that one of the two teenagers who were tragically shot and killed in a vehicle on Christmas Day was 15-year-old Exziel Rivera.
They reported that Rivera succumbed to injuries sustained during a shooting incident that occurred on Wednesday morning near the intersection of South 37th and Scott streets in Milwaukee. Authorities indicated that an 18-year-old passenger in the same vehicle also lost her life; she was later identified by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office as Nayah Vasquez.
“My child would never allow a holiday to pass without him being present,” Rivera’s mother, who requested anonymity, expressed to WISN 12 News on Thursday. “He had a remarkable ability to make people laugh and always wore a smile. He was an excellent cook.”
According to police, the assailant fired into a parked white SUV located on the roadside. Surveillance footage captured the subsequent events, showing the vehicle colliding with another parked car before coming to a halt in a nearby front yard. The video reveals two individuals exiting the crashed vehicle, with one of them dragging Rivera from the car.
“You claim to be his friend, yet you abandon my child on the ground as if he were refuse?” she lamented, tears in her eyes. Neighbors in the vicinity rushed to assist the teenagers on Christmas morning.
“I spoke with both of their parents and offered them comfort on Christmas,” stated neighbor Ashlee Knight. “It is heartbreaking — they are just children.” Authorities reported that the 18-year-old was pronounced dead at the hospital, while Rivera was declared dead at the scene.
“Now, we are both faced with the unbearable task of burying our children,” Rivera’s mother stated. Police have indicated that no suspects are currently in custody, and the identity of the shooter remains unknown. Rivera’s mother expressed her anger towards the individual responsible.
“I want that person to receive a life sentence,” she declared. “I hope you see his face everywhere, and it torments you inside as it does me every day, knowing that you are alive and free to live your life while my son lies in a morgue.” In response to the tragedy, Rivera’s family has initiated an online fundraiser to assist with funeral expenses.
