The father of Lilly Bova, a 16-year-old who was shot and killed Saturday at her Glenview home, is sharing memories of his daughter and the moment his world changed.

Her mother, who Lilly lived with, was too distraught to speak on camera. As she showed photos to WGN-TV, she said her daughter was her whole life.

“I never thought she would leave me this soon. She’s an instant angel,” Anthony Bova said. “The children’s stepfather, Oscar, ran in the room. I’ll never forget this moment. He said ‘get up, Lilly’s been shot.’”

Lilly was home with her older sister, who called police after hearing gunfire and finding her wounded.

At around 11 a.m. Saturday, according to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were sent to the home in unincorporated Glenview to investigate reports of a person who had been shot.

When authorities arrived, they found that Lilly was shot. She was taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, where she died, according to investigators.

Lilly was a sophomore at Glenbrook South High School and was well-liked by her peers.

“Just oozing with talent, oozing with good spirits and she was going to do whatever she wanted in this world,” Anthony Bova said.

She had just returned from a spring break trip to Great Wolf Lodge. Her father said he had recently been teaching her how to drive, and she had just told him what she hoped to do after high school.

“She was passionate about people, she was going to make a difference in this world through teaching or nursing,” he said.

Now, her family is focused on finding justice.

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office has not confirmed whether a suspect is in custody but says it is working with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office on next steps in the case.

“I just pray for the world that nothing like this ever happens ever again to anyone else,” Anthony Bova said. “We need to control gun violence and stop letting kids underage get ahold of weapons that could kill each other. There is nothing at that age worth dying for.”

Grief counselors were available at Glenbrook South High School as students returned from spring break.

Police say the shooting was an isolated incident and that there is no threat to the public.