Local law enforcement agencies are reacting to the shooting death of a 19-year-old woman at what’s been described as a weekend “car and motorcycle meet-up.”
Grand Rapids Police Department investigators are seeking a motive behind Sunday’s shooting death of 19-year-old Alana Vasquez.
GRPD Police Chief Eric Winstrom says the Grand Rapids teen’s life was tragically cut short while attending a “car and motorcycle meet-up.”
"This is more than kids doing burnouts and kids showing off their cars," Winstrom said. “This is behavior that unfortunately has resulted in the murder of a 19-year-old girl. Absolutely unacceptable."
“Car and motorcycle meet-ups” are a growing trend in the metro Grand Rapids area, where authorities say mostly young adults coordinate large gatherings on social media to shut down intersections blocking traffic to conduct a drag races,
Chief Winstrom says many times, this leads to more serious crimes citing a recent arrest of one of the drivers.
“That driver had a fully loaded semi-automatic handgun on the back seat of their car,” Winstrom said. “I don’t know why you’re going to a car show with a fully loaded semi-automatic handgun on the back seat of your car. It was illegally possessed, too.”
In addition to tracking down the meet-up organizers with a cease-and-desist order, Winstrom first and foremost wants justice for the Vasquez family.
He says anyone with information will not be prosecuted for taking part in the meet-ups or any other petty crimes.
