Teenage Girl Shot to Death While Filming TikTok Video in Colorado

Three suspects have been charged after a 14-year-old girl was shot dead whilst filming a TikTok video earlier this month.

Aaliyah Salazar, who has been identified by her family, was killed on August 7 at a home in Monte Vista, Colorado.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, which has been reviewed by KRDO-TV, she was dancing with two other children when she was shot in the head by a Glock 19 pistol.

Police were called to the 300 block of Monroe Street at 4.26 pm. After arriving at the scene they found Aaliyah unconscious, and not breathing.

Emergency Medical Services later arrived and confirmed there were "no vital signs or signs of life from the victim."

Monte Vista Police Department have arrested two juvenile females, who have not been named, and 21-year-old Emiliano Vargas in connection with the death.

Vargas, who legally owned the handgun in question, is not believed to have been in the property when the shooting took place. However, he has been charged with providing or permitting a juvenile to posses a firearm.

The two juveniles have been charged with felony manslaughter and misdemeanor possession of a weapon.

Police recovered video taken immediately before the shooting, which showed Aaliyah dancing with "someone in the background fiddling with something."

Speaking to officers, one of the teens present said they had seen another direct the gun towards Aaliyah before a shot is fired. They added: "It could be an accident."

Speaking to local network WCNC, Gary Salazar, Aaliyah's grandfather and guardian, paid tribute to the victim.

He said: "She could go into a store and come out with 20 new friends. She was just that type of person. She loved people and people loved her."

The maximum penalty the two juveniles detained could face is six years within the Colorado Youthful Offender System.

Gary questioned whether the punishment would fit the crime, commenting: "The frustration I've got with that is if you take a life you should have to pay for it dearly. Not with a slap on the hand and say don't do it again."

A crowdfunder set up on gofundme.com to pay for Aaliyah's headstone has raised $3,965, with a total target of $5,000. It was setup by Jessica Ornelas on behalf of Gary Salazar, her uncle.

The accompanying text reads: "As most of you may already know my uncle tragically lost his 14-year-old granddaughter Aaliyah late yesterday afternoon.

"Aaliyah had recently graduated from the 8th grade at Monte Vista Middle School and would have been a freshman at Monte Vista High School this year. Aaliyah was Gary's whole world, he loved his baby girl so much.

"This year has been a rough one on the Salazar family as a whole. As a family we are asking for donations to help with Aaliyah's headstone, any amount that you could possibly spare would be greatly appreciated."

In July, a nine-year-old playing with a gun accidentally shot and killed a 15-year-old in West Baltimore, Maryland. Two months earlier a 15-year-old was shot dead in Jackson, Mississippi, during what police called a "prank gone wrong".