Hunt Is On For Killer Who Shot Girl, 12, At Victorville Home

VICTORVILLE (CBSLA.com/AP) -- Authorities are looking for a gunman who walked up to a Victorville home and opened fire, killing a 12-year-old girl.

San Bernardino County Sheriff's officials say Makiya Walls was inside the home at Monaco Drive and Palermo Avenue when shots smashed through the front window and struck her Wednesday night.

The shooting occurred just before 8:30 p.m., authorities said.

Walls died at a hospital around 10 p.m.

She was supposed to start 7th grade today.

The man - who was armed with a shotgun - fled in a white, possibly four-door sedan.

Walls' mother -- Maesha McCullers -- wept Thursday as she described her daughter, calling her smart, witty, respectful, caring, and "the most innocent child with the biggest heart."

A neighbor told CBS2 she believed she heard four pops -- very loud and very quick in succession. She believed it might have been fireworks at first. She then heard sirens and knew something wasn't right.

"They just came out screaming that someone had shot their daughter," she said, "right through the front window."

Investigators haven't released a motive for the attack.

McCullers is also at a loss to figure out why.

"I don't know why this happened," she said, "I don't know who did it. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. But we're going to find out."

Walls' family told CBS 2's Joy Benedict that a vigil was planned for 7:30 Thursday evening.

The vigil will be held at the baseball fields behind Desert Trails Elementary School (14350 Bellflower Street, Adelanto 92301.)

Meanwhile, McCullers is trying to come to terms with his devastating loss.

"She wasn't even into boys yet," she said, "she made slime. That was her hobby."

At the vigil Thursday evening, friends and family of the victim told KCAL 9's Tina Patel that Makiya would have been touched to see how many people came out to honor her.

"I know if she was here right now," said Kady Stonesiefer, "she would think this was all sweet."

Because her brothers played football so she spent a lot of time on the field behind the school. Her family is, of course, devastated but they told Patel they have come together to remember all the things that made the 12-year-old so special.

(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)