Reward doubled as community mourns teens viciously murdered in Brentwood

BRENTWOOD, Long Island (WABC) -- A high school on Long Island is mourning two teen girls who were viciously murdered earlier this week, as investigators bump up the reward to help close the case.

Brentwood Ross High School held a vigil Friday night for 15-year-old Nisa Mickens and her best friend, 16-year-old Kayla Cuevas.

It was a chance to say goodbye, a tall order for so many who loved 15-year-old Nisa Mickens and 16-year-old Kayla Cuevas so dearly.

"If you guys are ok, then I'll be ok. And I can move forward with your strength," Nisa's mother said.

Nisa Michens mother and father stood in front of a crowd of hundreds Friday night at a candlelight vigil at Brentwood High School.

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As they continue to mourn, they somehow found the strength to focus on their daughter's classmates, young people who are broken by this loss.

"Those girls were my babies. I sat there talked with them, laughed with them, played basketball with them. These girls are wonderful," Robert Mickens, Nisa's father.

Kayla's sister sat in front of the crowd, listening to kind words, and watching the raw emotion as everyone sang, and chanted their names. It was understandingly just too much for her to bear.

Nisa and Kayla were found brutally beaten. Police believe they were the victims of gang violence Tuesday.

So far there is no motive and no suspects.

Friday night, community leaders urged people to come forward and give these families some semblance of peace.

"You that may know what happened. If you become silent then you are a part of the injustice," a preacher said.

"You're young and you decide to take someone's life, you decide to have a family one day of your own, you're going to remember what you did," Robert Mickens said.

"We must get justice for these girls," said Chris Hamilton, the mother of a gun violence victim.

Police have increased the reward to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people who killed the girls.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Brentwood Police Department at 1-800-220-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.