SURREY (NEWS1130) - About 200 people gathered at Surrey's Holland Park in a vigil for a 19-year-old shooting victim Friday night, many of them holding back tears as they lit candles.
Maple Batalia was remembered as a young woman with her whole life ahead of her. Michelle Cyr lit a candle and remembered her childhood friend.
"She was a great person. Everyone loved her. She was so kind and never did anything to anyone," Cyr tells News1130.
"When all this happened I was amazed at how many people she touched."
The 19-year-old student died early Wednesday morning after being shot in the parking area outside Surrey's SFU campus. RCMP have not yet made an arrest.
Friends, classmates and colleagues are still in shock that the nursing student's life came to such a violent end. One friend who asked to have his name withheld and who helped organize the vigil tells News1130 that Batalia was a person who had a bright future, and was one of the most popular girls he ever knew.
"She was going to be one of those people that would make a difference," he says. "Unfortunately, she didn't get that chance. But I think another significant part of her vigil is that it gives us a chance to show her and everyone around her that she did make a difference in everyone's lives."
He says gathering people in honour of Batalia is very fitting.
"She would do anything to try and bring everyone together, you know what I mean? And so this is kind of in memory of her, we're just going to get everyone together."
Meanwhile, up to 50 officers are still working on the case, and security at the campus is under review.