Teen girl shot, killed near 91st Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road

PHOENIX — A teenage girl was shot and killed in West Phoenix early Sunday morning.

Phoenix police say they were initially called to the shooting near 91st Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road just after midnight.

VIDEO: The family of Desiree Rivas speaks out, calls for information leading to an arrest:

When officers arrived, they found a teen girl with a gunshot wound in front of a home. Phoenix firefighters pronounced her dead at the scene.

Family identified the victim as 17-year-old Desiree Rivas, who was a cheerleader at Cesar Chavez High School.

Police believe Rivas was leaving a house party in the area when she was shot.

Roland and Trinette Hairston have lived in the area for about three years. They told ABC15 they were getting home from a concert late Saturday night when Trinette heard the gunshots.

“When I pulled in, I seen a couple of cars pull up across the street, I heard some shooting. I’m in my car and I ducked. Then I heard some voices,” Trinette said.

Neighbors in the area tell ABC15 they saw other teens running after the shots rang out.

Another neighbor, Renee, who did not want to give her last name, said she heard the gunshots overnight and saw teens running, too.

On Sunday morning, she tried to walk her dog when she came across the police tape. Police were still investigating more than 12 hours after the shooting. Evidence markers were still in the street at that time, too.

“It’s really sad. Especially, it’s on Mother’s Day….And I’m a mother. Very disturbing,” Renee said.

The Hairstons say the area has been getting worse, in terms of shootings. They hope police would have more presence in the area.

“Just patrolling through the neighborhoods. I think a more active approach and patrol will deter some of the things that’s going on late at night out here,” Roland said.

On Monday, friends and family gathered to honor Desiree at a nearby park.

ABC15 spoke with Desiree's father, Danny Rivas who said, "Desiree was a beautiful person with an amazing soul".

Police do not currently have any information on a suspect and family is hoping someone with information will come forward.

"You took someone who could have been a great person, and she meant a lot to everyone," said Danny. "And were going to find you."

Silent Witness is offering up to $2,000 for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible.

The FBI has also provided an additional $10,000 for information leading to an arrest.

This shooting remains under investigation.