Candlelight vigil held for Aaliyah Carter

The close to freezing conditions didn't stop dozens of friends and their families from paying tribute to a Beaumont 10-year-old killed over the weekend.

Aaliyah Carter was running along side a float at the end of the Beaumont Christmas parade on Saturday Night when she tripped and fell.  The wheels of the trailer ran over her and she died from her injuries

Aaliyah was a fourth grade student at Homer Drive Elementary School in Beaumont, as well as a beloved dancer at I-Rule Dance Studio in Beaumont.

Tonight, fellow dancers and their families gathered together in front of that dance studio to hold a candlelight vigil in Carter's honor.  The group of about 50 prayed for the girl they say was a leader on the dance floor, always smiling and always happy.  Marc Shepherd from the Christian Fellowship Worship Center reminded Carter's friends that life is not made up of how long a person is alive, but what that person did 'while' they were alive.

In Carter's case, the group remembered the child's bright attitude for life and one of her loves... dancing.  Parents were also reminded how important it is to cherish their children every moment of every day, because one of those moments could take them too soon, like Carter.  Those at the vigil say the event was needed.

Carter's dance teacher, Ty Riley said, "This is very good to do for her and her family and hopefully everybody can remember the way she was."

Shepherd said, "It's very tragic what happened and really about the only thing people can do is get together and what may come out of this is a closer relationship and closer fellowship and that's really what this is, remembering and using a tragedy to help people grow closer together."

Visitation for Aaliyah will be tomorrow, December 11th from 11am to 7pm at Comeaux Funeral Chapel on Irma Street in Beaumont.  A service celebrating Aaliyah life will be held Friday December 12th at 11am at Paradise Baptist Church on Fannett Road in Beaumont.