SALT LAKE CITY -- A candlelight vigil took place Saturday evening outside the Salt Lake City home where three people were found shot and killed on Friday.
More than 50 friends and family lit candles outside the house on 639 North Sir Philips Drive. One by one, people took turns dropping off mementos on the front porch steps. Many of them were toys in honor of two-month-old Lyrik Poike, who was among those killed.
"When I first heard about this I just started crying, I was like, 'How could anyone do that?' I was trying to figure out why could anything like this happen to her, she was only two months, she did nothing, an innocent little girl got killed for nothing," said family friend Tayzia Cordova.
Lyrik's grandmother, 50-year-old Heike Poike, was also shot alongside the infant. People said no one loved the child more. According to friends, Lyrik's mother is currently in jail and Poike was caring for her children.
They had been living in the house for about six months. We are being told the other victim, 28-year-old Dakota Smith, was friends with Poike.
As for the suspect, Alexander Tran, he was renting the downstairs apartment of the home. No one at the vigil had any idea why he would allegedly commit such a horrific crime.
"It's just horrible, the whole story that's happening, it's not good what happened, no baby, no parent, no grandma, no anything should have to go through what they are going through right now: It's horrible," said family friend Christen Morales.
The messages of sympathy could also be found on Heike Poika's Facebook page. Comments included:
"This is so sad who can kill a grandmother and granddaughter."
"Omg, I can't believe it. How can this be true?"
"My heart hurts I'm in shock rip my beautiful friend and granddaughter omg I can't believe this."
"Rest in peace my long time dear friend...we will get justice."
