Vigil held for 16-year-old girl killed at park on West Side; CPD conducting 'internal investigation'

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Loved ones held a vigil Sunday for a 16-year-old girl who was killed last week at a park on the West Side.

Family members identified the victim to ABC7 as 16-year-old Kaylah Love.

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Love's body was found around 4:50 p.m. Monday at Horan Park in the 3000 block of West Van Buren Street in East Garfield Park, Chicago police said.

The Cook County Medical Examiner determined her death to be a homicide, with the cause being multiple injuries from an assault.

A vigil was held for Love on Sunday afternoon at the park where she was found dead.

Robert Love, a father consumed by loss, is looking for hope.

"I just want justice for my baby," he said.

He is surrounded by a community crusading for justice.

"Should no mother have to bury her child, should no father have to bury his child," said Jasmine Reynolds, a cousin of the victim's mother.

Love's family is pleading with the public for both answers and accountability.

"In talking to police, we believe the murder happened right over here near the jungle gym area of the playground area," relative Kenyatta Euring said.

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"She deserves to be here," Reynolds said. "She's supposed to be here."

The beloved 16-year-old Manley Career Academy High School student planned to pursue a career in culinary arts.

"She's not a statistic," Euring said. "She's a young lady who should still be here with us."

Last week, Love's family said police were called to Horan Park after a report of a fight in the park. The family claims police drove by the area, but did not get out of the vehicle.

The next day, Love's family said she was found badly beaten in that same park.

"We don't know for sure but she could have been dead or dying when they pulled up and there may have been an opportunity to save her life," Euring said.

City officials confirmed Sunday night the officers that were called to the scene and how they handled the case is being investigated.

"We have to have this matter investigated... if the officers did not do what they were supposed to do, did not follow procedure, did not follow common sense, they will be dealt with appropriately," Ald. Jason Ervin said.

ABC7 reached out to the Chicago Police Department to determine what is the policy in place when officers are called to a scene. They said there is an "internal investigation" into the matter and did not comment on what that policy is.

As far as the investigation into Love's murder, police said so far no one is in custody.

No further information was immediately.

A full report on the vigil will air on Eyewitness News at 10 p.m. on ABC7.