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05/14/2012 11:07 PM

Brooklyn Neighbors Hold Vigil For Performer Lost In Fire

By: NY1 News

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Residents of a Brooklyn neighborhood gathered Monday night to hold a vigil for Lorena Escalera, who was killed in an Ocean Hill apartment fire Saturday.

Escalera was a transgender performer with the House of Xtravanganza and well-known in the LGBT community.

<i>Lorena Escalera</i>
Lorena Escalera
Her friends said they lost a wonderful person.

"I'm just devastated that such a beautiful human being that her life had to end in such a short period of time," said Victor Rodriguez, Escalera's friend.

"I can't believe she's gone. I really can't. I was just with her the other day, she was at my family's house," said Alexis Crespo, Escalera's friend.

"She was a very lovely person, very happy. She was really friendly with everyone," said Eddye Furman, Escalera's friend.

Officials found Escalera after the fire broke out Saturday in her apartment building.

By Monday night, the cause of the fire had not been determined.