PHOENIX — Thalia Vargas remembers her 8-year-old niece Cassidy as a girl full of life, outgoing and sweet.
Now she is left to grieve the young girl who died from injuries she received during a road rage shooting in north Phoenix on Oct. 27.
"We want to make sure that people are aware that this is a person. This wasn't just an 8-year-old little girl that was just a victim. She was someone's niece, someone's daughter, someone's granddaughter, someone's sister," Vargas said.
Court paperwork shows the incident initially started at a stop sign, but 48-year-old Sidney Garrant followed a car to the intersection of 16th Street and Greenway Parkway. That's where Phoenix police say Garrand got out of his vehicle and into some altercation with a 28-year-old man, who was in the other vehicle.
Authorities said the two men got out of their vehicles and continued to fight in the intersection. Police said the 28-year-old man grabbed a knife and stabbed the other man several times.
Police said the stabbing suspect got back into his car and started driving away. The stabbing victim reportedly fired multiple shots at the stabbing suspect's car as it left the area. Officials said the bullets struck the vehicle and struck 8-year-old Cassidy Moreno, who was inside the vehicle
Cassidy, Vargas said, was unafraid to be herself, even at such a young age. Sharing, she also made TikTok videos and cared for her family.
"It makes me happy to know that she was happy. You know, she's she had a good childhood. That was all she was given was a childhood," Vargas said.
Now, with her life cut short, the family wants justice for Cassidy.
"Things shouldn't have escalated on either end; however, an innocent life should not be taken over an inconvenience or misunderstanding," Vargas said.
Vargas said Cassidy's father was the one who stabbed Garrand in the fight at the intersection.
"It was my understanding that he felt threatened," Vargas said.
Police said only Garrand is facing criminal charges right now. Court paperwork shows Garrand is being held on a $500,000 cash-only bond in Maricopa County jail.
Garrand was officially indicted on several charges by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office earlier in November.
He'll be facing seven total felony counts including one count of second-degree murder and one count of attempted second-degree murder.
While Cassidy is a victim in the case, Vargas said the family wants her remembered as the little girl she was and hopes other people think while they're on the road.
"It shouldn't ever lead to that," Vargas said.
The family has started a GoFundMe for Cassidy's funeral expenses. If you'd like to help, you can donate here.
"Senseless violence is unacceptable in this community. An innocent child was killed and no matter what is happening on the road, violence is never the answer," said County Attorney Rachel Mitchell.
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