Candelight vigil held for Las Cruces girl on 15th anniversary of her murder

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico -- A candlelight vigil was taking place Thursday evening as family and friends remembered a teenage girl who was murdered 15 years ago. (You can watch the entire vigil in the video player above.)

Ashley Wax, who was just 15 at the time, was shot and killed by her then-16-year-old boyfriend David Garcia in February 2005 when the pair were students at Las Cruces High School.

Garcia, who was charged as an adult, pleaded guilty in July 2007 to first-degree murder, false imprisonment, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, unlawful carrying of a firearm by a person under the age of 19, larceny of a firearm and residential burglary.

Ashley's father, John Wax, had said at the time that "justice was served with him pleading guilty, to admitting to killing our daughter."

In a deal with prosecutors for his guilty plea, Garcia was sentenced to 29 years in prison for the deadly shooting, instead of life imprisonment - but he is now set to be paroled soon after serving about half his sentence.

Authorities said Garcia admitted to shooting Wax in the driveway of her home, just days after the two had ended a relationship with each other. Garcia told investigators he shot Wax because she did not give him a good reason for breaking up, according to court documents.

The firearm used in the killing was a 9mm handgun that had been stolen from one of Garcia's family members. Garcia previously had threatened Wax with the 9mm handgun by holding it to her neck and threatening to pull the trigger, prosecutors said.

Thursday marked the fifteenth anniversary of Wax's death, which comes during February which is Teen Dating Violence Month.

Roxanne Garcia-McElmell, a spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office, said Thursday there are signs that may indicate you or someone you know are in an unhealthy and abusive relationship:

• Checking cell phones, emails or social media without permission.
• Extreme jealousy or insecurity
• Constant put-downs, belittling or abusive language
• Explosive Temper
• Isolation from family and friends
• Making false accusations or threats
• Physically inflicting pain or hurt in any way
• Possessiveness: telling you what you can and cannot do
• Repeatedly pressuring to have sex

(The Associated Press contributed background to this report.)