Massive Crowd Fills Lake Anne Plaza To Remember Nabra Hassanen

RESTON, VA — Throngs of people packed Lake Anne Plaza in Reston to remember the life of Nabra Hassanen, the 17-year-old Muslim girl who was brutally murdered on Sunday in an incident that touched off nationwide outrage and controversy. Reports suggest as many as 5,000 people attended the vigil.

Vigils were held in other cities across the United States to remember Hassanen, who police believe was killed in an incident of road rage in nearby Sterling as she was walking with her friends near her mosque. Police later arrested 22-year-old Darwin Martinez Torres, an immigrant from El Salvador.

Speakers at the vigil called Nabra "dependable" and "generous." Flowers filled the plaza as people held them close while remembering the smiling teen.

SEE ALSO: Murder Of Nabra Hassanen: What You Need To Know

Fairfax County Police Chief Edwin Roessler, facing criticism for calling the crime a road rage incident rather than a hate crime, was also on hand along with the imam of the mosque Hassanen attended.

An ugly incident at another memorial for Hassanen at Dupont Circle in D.C. further stoked fears about anti-Muslim violence. Police arrested someone who set fire to the memorial, although police claim the individual was setting fire to random objects in the park and wasn't targeting the memorial specifically.

The Reston teen was remembered nationwide, with #JusticeforNabra vigils in Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, and New York, among others.

Friends of #Nabra Hassanen speak about her at a vigil in her memory at Lake Anne Plaza @WTOP pic.twitter.com/0zRORoYcLT
— Michelle Basch (@mbaschWTOP) June 22, 2017

Just part of the large crowd here at Lake Anne Plaza to remember #Nabra Hassanen @WTOP pic.twitter.com/DKdclXEiZC
— Michelle Basch (@mbaschWTOP) June 21, 2017

We stand tonight w Nabra's family and second their call for love. We promise we'll continue to work diligently to bring justice for Nabra. pic.twitter.com/58XizdRTyd
— Fairfax Co. Police (@fairfaxpolice) June 22, 2017

Chief Roessler stands with Imam Magid before the vigil for Nabra. “I promise we will bring justice for Nabra and her community.” pic.twitter.com/9jlyZXO2Uu
— Fairfax Co. Police (@fairfaxpolice) June 21, 2017

Nationwide Vigils for 17 Year Old Nabra Hassanen. She was beaten to death with a baseball bat. #JusticeForNabrahttps://t.co/K26inyywht pic.twitter.com/hFnKTgYF0E
— Shomari Stone (@shomaristone) June 20, 2017

Image of Hassanen's locker at South Lakes High School courtesy Kahlil Dover