Milwaukee (SPECTRUM NEWS)- Melody Evans of Chippewa remembers her friend, 24-year-old Laile Vang.

“She was an amazing person,” says Evans.

This, after authorities found Vang dead in her home in Lake Hallie.  It happened on 45^th Avenue Sunday.  The Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office accuses 33-year-old Ritchie German Jr. of fatally shooting her.

“Someone that close to you, you realize they're out getting ice cream one day and the next they're gone because some random person killed them,” Evans says. 

Evans spoke with Spectrum News One’s Megan Carpenter via FaceTime on a road trip in Denver, Colorado.

“I've been trying to deal with it the entire trip and I would say today has been one of the better days because I'm to the point where I can't cry anymore and today is basically acceptance, recognizing it happened," Evans says.

She reflects on the good times with Laile.  The two attended Chippewa Falls High School together, both as members of the color guard.

“She always had a joke to tell, laughing and smiling and her energy would just latch on to you and you would instantly feel better if you were sad,” said Evans.  “That's the affect she had on everyone around her."

Evans and Vang attended college together too for a brief time at UW-Eau Claire.

“I joined the blue gold marching band because of her," says Evans

She says her community is shocked.

“When I first found out, I'm not a crier but it was just instant tears and heartbreak,” says Evans.

Chippewa County’s Sheriff Jim Kowalczyk says German Jr. also shot Vang’s parents.  They survived and remain in the hospital.  Each one had an arm amputated as a result of the shooting.  Laile Vang’s cousin, Leni Sujin created a Go Fund Me page to help pay for Laile’s funeral expenses.  It also would assist in paying for her parents’ medical bills. 

“There’s a lot of anger,” says Evans.

Despite her grief, Evans has one plea for those who did not know Laile Vang.  Remember her for the life she lived, not for the life she lost.

“I know it's sad, but the way Laile was, she wouldn't want people to be sad,” says Evans.  “Just remember her for the wonderful person she was."

We have filed a public records request with the Sheriff’s Office.  Thus far, there has been no response.  Kowalczyk accuses German Jr. of also shooting and killing three of his own relatives.  This happened, he says, before he went to the Vang house, killing Laile, then fatally shooting himself.