WAIANAE, Hawaii (KHON) — Family and friends of Andrea Cortez gathered in Waianae for a vigil to honor her memory and demand justice.

Cortez, a 45-year-old mother and friend, passed away on Feb. 7 after being hospitalized for injuries sustained in a possible assault.

According to Honolulu Police, Cortez was transported to the Waianae Fire Department on Jan. 21 with severe pain.

She reported that she had been assaulted by an unknown female suspect, who fled the scene.

Cortez was later transferred to the hospital, where she remained until her death on Feb. 7. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Her family, heartbroken by the loss, says they want to make sure Andrea’s story is not forgotten.

“We need to stop the violence in this community,” said Francisca Carrillo, Cortez’s niece. “A lot of violence is happening, and there’s no real consequences for what people are doing out here. I don’t want her to be just another person who was here and then gone, with no one remembering. She wasn’t just a person. She was our person. She was a special person. She was very much loved and she’s missed a lot.”

Carrillo urged the community to stand up against violence and be there for one another. “There were a lot of people who could have helped her in that moment. She didn’t see it coming. We need to make sure that awareness is here, and violence needs to stop,” Carrillo said.

Loved ones remembered Andrea as a supportive mother who uplifted everyone around her. She is described as someone who had a heart for others, always offering help and encouragement to those in need.

Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact the Honolulu Police Department.