CASA GRANDE, Ariz. — Pink balloons drifted skyward in Casa Grande on Saturday evening as family and friends gathered to remember Hailey Stephens, a 17-year-old killed by a stray bullet at a house party nearly a year ago.
Family, friends and community members sported shirts with Stephens' photo and signed messages on their balloons that read "Miss you every day, rest easy" and "We love you, may you continue to shine bright."
"My favorite part about her was her laugh. It was such an infectious laugh," one friend who attended the balloon release ceremony, who did not want to be identified, said.
Stephens was described as an involved student at Casa Grande Union High School, participating in cheerleading and maintaining a strong academic performance.
"She was really into school, her athletics, cheer — I was on the cheer team with her," Kylie Mendoza, a fellow cheerleader, said. "She was overall (a) really funny, hardworking, dedicated person."
The memorial came as new details on the case emerged.
A 14-year-old has been sentenced in juvenile court and placed in custody of the Arizona Juvenile Corrections Department until age 18 for Stephens' death.
The shooting occurred last November when a fight broke out at a house party.
Stephens, who was not involved in the altercation, was struck by a stray bullet.
"I couldn't ever have imagined what happened happening," Vanessa Stephens, Hailey's mother, said. "Hailey was a really beautiful, bright, smart girl."
Stephens said, in her opinion, the person who caused her daughter's death should get a life sentence but noted state law says otherwise.
"I'm making peace with the fact this isn't a life sentence," Stephens said while holding back tears. "Being in the system that he's in is horrible — we lost two people. My hope would be that he comes out and becomes a beautiful person and has a beautiful family."
After this experience, Stephens stressed the importance of spending time with loved ones.
"Spend more time with your family," Stephens advised. "We spent lots of time with Hailey, but that all can be taken away."
Since Hailey's death, the family has established the Hailey Lynn Stephens Foundation, which provides scholarships to students pursuing higher education.
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