CHARLOTTE — Family, friends, and members of a school community gathered in east Charlotte to remember 6-year-old Mariana Espinoza, one week after she was killed while getting off a school bus.
The vigil brought people together at the intersection where the first grader lost her life. Those who knew Mariana described a difficult week as they came together to support her family and honor her memory.
“We’re here to help whatever they need, to support them. We keep going, but she will stay in our memories,” one person at the vigil said.
The gathering comes as the family continues to cope with the loss and works to make sure another family does not experience the same pain.
Several days after the crash, police arrested 17-year-old Lachevis Finnie, who is charged with felony hit-and-run. He is being held on a $2.5 million bond.
Channel 9 reviewed court documents that say Finnie admitted to police that he crashed into Mariana and left the scene because he was scared.