Family grieves loss of teenager

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte police continue to hunt for the killer of a 14-year-old girl who was gunned down Tuesday afternoon.

The murder happened on Catherine Simmons Avenue in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood near La Salle Street.

Police say the victim and the killer knew each other, but they're not sure if they were close friends or just acquaintances.

On Wednesday afternoon, Ashante Mayfield's family held an impromptu memorial service at the spot where the teen was shot and killed.

The victim's mother, Octovia Mayfield, says her family is struggling with the loss.

Vanessa Hines

Police are looking for 19-year-old Vanessa Hines. Investigators say she and Ashante got into a fight before the shooting.

Afterwards, police think someone helped Hines get away and helped hide the murder weapon.

"He should get charged with something," Mayfield said, speaking about the alleged accomplice.

Ashante leaves behind a 6-month-old daughter.

"I never thought that I had to raise her baby," said Ashante's grandmother, Regina.

Police say that if they can catch up with the person who helped Hines it’s possible that he too could be charged with murder. The final decision on that will rest with the district attorney.

NewsChannel 36 Crime Tracker shows that in a one-year period there have been 37 aggravated assaults within a one-mile radius of Tuesday's crime scene. There were also 21 armed robberies and 105 drug-related crimes.