Several hundreds of people gathered together Friday night at a Fairfield park to remember a girl whose short, yet turbulent life, came to a violent end one week ago.

The vigil for 13-year-old Genelle Conway Allen came on the same day police arrested a man for her murder.

Police said 32-year-old Anthony Lamar Jones is their sole suspect in the killing of the seventh grader.

Genelle was remembered Friday night on the same spot where she was found.

Local pastors led prayers for the girl.

"We ask that you bring justice in this city," said one pastor.

The arrest was a relief for the community, but loved ones are now grieving over the loss of the 13-year-old.

Rita Rose is Genelle's great-aunt, and part of a large extended family from Siskiyou County that didn't know Genelle and her younger brother had recently been removed from their mother and placed in foster care.

"I'd like to say relief, but it's not," Rose said. "The pain is too much. We're glad there's an arrest. We're glad he's off the streets. He should have never touched her to begin with."

Genelle's foster parents wept at Friday night's vigil. In a statement they said they love her and always will.

Many families are holding each other a bit tighter Friday night, because of the girl who loved to sing and dance, and write poetry.

"Everything she came to with a smile," Rose said. "She wanted more for her life. She had plans. She had a story. How unfair to be taken from that at 13."

The vigil ended Friday night with some of Gennelle's out-of-town relatives writing messages and releasing balloons.

They said Genelle was Bay Area born and raised mostly in Contra Costa County