Loved ones gathered to remember an 18-year-old girl shot while attempting to merge into a lane on Route 100 in Chester County.
“I don’t know who did this. I don’t know who stole my baby away from me,” sobbed Michelle Roberson at a Friday night vigil for her 18-year-old daughter, who was gunned down earlier this week during a road rage attack.
“I just want to thank everyone - friends, strangers, neighbors. The only thing I can say is ‘Thank you for being here.'”
The Roberson’s are no strangers to tragedy. Just four years ago, Bianca’s older brother died of heart disease.
“To see them go through this, it's horrible. It's horrible to know they went through this once and then to know they have to relive it again,” said vigil organizer Stephen Lyons.
Lyons and co-organizer Stephen Miller were also friends with Bianca’s late brother, Mykel.
“He was die-hard for his sister and same visa versa,” he said. “She loved Mykel as a role model.”
More than 100 loved ones gathered at the Roberson home in West Chester for the vigil. Those who spoke choked back tears while reading short statements about Bianca’s short life.
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“When we were younger we used to hang out a lot. We used to ride bikes all the time. We had a lot of memories… even through high school graduation. She will be greatly missed, and I will miss her a lot,” said neighbor Trevor Staples.
Another member of the Staples family, Corey, also spoke.
“Even though I didn’t really know her that well… I still feel that she was a great person and I still don’t understand why someone would senselessly take the life of someone so young. I wish her well in heaven,” he said.
Another young man recalled making 10-second videos with Bianca, who was killed while attempting to merge into a lane on Route 100. Her car crashed into a ditch and her assailant fled the scene towards Paoli Pike.
A hunt for the suspect has extended beyond Pennsylvania into neighboring states and even as far west as Texas. Police are looking for a white male, medium build, 30 to 40 years old with blonde or light-colored brown hair. His vehicle is described as a small, red pickup truck with faded paint.
n"It's an angel that's gonna be missed," Bianca's aunt, Mari Hatton-Hayes said. "But as hard as it is, she's there with her brother."
