Two women light candles in memory of three-week-old Eliza Delacruz. Photos by Brittany Woolsey
About 50 people on Friday night gathered for a candlelight vigil outside the home of three-week-old Eliza Delacruz, where her family was shot by an unknown suspect last Saturday and from where she was taken before her body was found in San Diego County last Sunday.
The vigil was organized by Lawanda Hawkins, who founded Justice for Murdered Children in 1996 when her son Reggie was murdered. She was joined by several other families of murder victims who shared condolenses for Eliza’s family, as well as clergy from local churches who offered prayers.
“I don’t even know where to begin,” Hawkins said. “It breaks my heart to even have to be here to talk about a three-week-old baby who was murdered, snatched from here and found in a dumpster in San Diego County. We all stand here united against this crime called murder. This crime is unacceptable in our community, and we are here to let this community know we are here to support them and ask them that if they heard or saw something to come forward to Long Beach police.”
Hawkins and a crowd of supporters, including Eliza’s grandmother, walked door-to-door to neighboring houses to ask for any information regarding the crime.
With tears appearing in her eyes, Eliza’s grandmother spoke to the crowd to say how grateful she was for their support.
“Thank you for all your prayers, but you know we still need support,” she said. “Please help us. Someone had to see something. Feel my pain. And please, to whoever did this to our family, my angel — it’s not my angel now. It’s everybody’s angel. Eliza’s touched so many hearts in so little time. Please help us. I know nothing can bring my baby back.”
Rebeca Velgado, who has lived on the nearby 52nd Street for 20 years, said the area is normally relatively quiet, and Saturday’s incident was out of the ordinary.
“My two grandkids go to the school down the street,” she said. “We walk all the time. We have never heard anything this terrible happen here. Maybe in the next two blocks. But not here.”
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is offering a $25,000 reward for anyone with any information regarding Saturday’s incident.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is strongly urged to call the LBPD at 562-435-6711. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or text TIPLA plus your tip to 274637 (CRIMES), or visit www.LACrimeStoppers.org.
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