Christine Hoelzel, principal of Valley Christian High School in Youngstown, gives remarks about Amya Monserrat, 15, who was killed April 15 by a stray bullet outside of Martha’s Boulevard Bar and Grille on Southern Boulevard, where she was attending a party. Amya’s casket is at left, as well as a photo of her....Staff photo / Ed Runyan

YOUNGSTOWN — Amya Monserrat was a talented and beautiful girl who loved to do her hair and entertain people.

A large crowd of family and friends shared a lot of laughs Wednesday as they remembered the 15-year-old freshman who entertained others with her dancing and other antics. She was killed by a stray bullet fired between competing adversaries April 15 as she attended a party at Martha’s Boulevard Bar and Grille on Southern Boulevard.

“My heart is heavy. I am upset that I had to come all the way from Ormond Beach, Fla., to be with you here today for a senseless act the occurred in this city,” the Rev. Floyd Narcisse, a cousin of Amya’s mother, said toward the end of a funeral that nearly filled Stambaugh Auditorium.

Pictures and videos shown on screens showed the student who was head cheerleader at Valley Christian School on the South Side.

“I am here to tell you I’ve got some good news,” Narcisse said. “I’m hurt, but I’m still blessed.”

Still, Narcisse said, he would not want to take away the grief people who knew Amya are feeling. “I am hurting. You are hurting from the senseless act from a coward. We are not hopeless, but we do feel the pain of our loved one,” he said.

Though Amya’s “smile could change the atmosphere … her smile is no longer here with us. She was a young person. She liked to hang out with her friends, her mother. She was a leader. She did all of these things that help us to remember the goodness of her life,” he said.

“I know she would want me to tell you she is no longer suffering: ‘I’m in a better place. I want you all to remember the good things I shared on this earth.'”

He told the the people, “I want you to know that all of us have a time to step up. Are you ready to stop the nonsense, the violence in our city? Are you willing to make a difference because of Amya? Or are you going to do the same stuff you did before? Brothers and sisters, young people, it’s time to stop messing around with guns. It’s time for us to do what God has taught us to do.”

SCHOOL MEMORIES

Christine Hoelzel, Valley Christian High School principal, stood not far from Amya’s coffin and said she remembered interviewing her last summer before the girl started school there.

“She was a bright and talented young woman, and I believed she would be a perfect addition to our student body,” Hoelzel said. “As a freshman, Amya was just beginning her journey at VCS. She made an impact on her classmates and teachers in a short amount of time.

“She was a beloved member of our school community and had a passion for life. Her passing has left us with heavy hearts,” she said.

“If I could share a few of the many wonderful remarks that were shared by her teachers, I would say just how much Amya loved eating hot Cheetos in (a teacher’s) Algebra 1 class after lunch,” Hoelzel said. “She insisted on carrying multiple bags with her everywhere.”

It was one of many lighter moments during the service.

“She loved joking with her teachers. Amya was a leader at a young age. She was a talented cheerleader, using her gifts to uplift and inspire others. She led her peers by encouraging them to think positively about life. She also hugged her friends and told the she loved them. All of these qualities made her so easy to love, and the Valley Christian community did love Amya.

“It is important that we remember the tragedy of Amya’s death,” Hoelzel said. “We must come together as a community to condemn violence and work toward creating a safer, more peaceful world. May we continue to lift one another up in the days and weeks ahead, remembering the life that Amya brought to our lives.

“How could we honor her? We can hug those we care about, tell others how much they mean to us and meet hatred with love. The greatest gift to Amya would be living our lives with a goal of showing love, kindness and compassion toward others each day.

“God is holding us, and he is holding Amya,” Hoelzel said.

MORE THOUGHTS

A dozen or more family and friends spoke of the girl, giving examples of her mischievous nature.

“I remember one time on Facebook, she said ‘I’m going to pierce my nose.’ I said ‘What?’ She took a needle and put it straight through her nose,” said Kayla Clinkscale, a friend. “Another time she decided to turn her hair red. She didn’t show her mom for three days,” Clinkscale said.

“It’s just so sad she had to go like this. It was never meant to be like this. She was so young, so pretty. We love you, Amya.”

Terraine Lightning had a message for Amya’s mom, Jaismin Morris: “You took the time out for Amya to encourage her. You spoke life into her. You installed love into her. So please don’t blame yourself or question yourself. All you did was be the best mom you could, being right there by your child’s side so she wouldn’t have to sneak out. That’s the type of mom a child should have.”

One of the most memorable parts of the service was the Valley Christian School student ensemble singing “For Your Glory,” which brought at least one of the performers to tears.

The Rev. Kenneth Donaldson of Rising Star Baptist Church in Youngstown led a prayer that asked God for “this family, this community that has been affected by this beautiful young lady.”

He prayed, “God we are angry. We are disappointed. Some are still numb. But we thank you God that you are a god that can handle our disappointments.

“In our distress, in our disappointment, in our anger, Lord, we resolve to trust you. Lord, we know that we cannot and will not get through this in our own strength, so we pray that your strength and your grace will be sufficient.”

ARREST

The Youngstown Police Department made one arrest in the case and issued an arrest warrant for another person.

Danyo R. Sellers, 16, had an initial hearing Monday in Mahoning County Juvenile Court. A second hearing is set for Tuesday. He is charged with murder and three counts of attempted murder. A warrant was issued for the arrest of Saun M. Peterson, 20, on a charge of complicity to murder.

Police said Amya was not the intended target of the gunfire. She was “hit by a stray bullet,” Capt. Jason Simon of the police department said.

erunyan@vindy.com