Balloons, teddy bears and candles decorated the Middle River home where authorities say 11-year-old London Olsen was killed by her mother last week.

About two dozen family and Baltimore County community members gathered Tuesday night for a vigil to memorialize her life.

Yolanda Dillon, London’s aunt, cried while counting down for the mourners to release the balloons simultaneously.

“Our family is heartbroken over the entirety of the situation,” Yolanda Dillon said.

Yolanda Dillon and other family members spoke about the importance of mental health. They, along with community members, also urged the children, over a dozen of whom were in attendance, to speak up when someone is hurting them or if they see something.

Keyona Dillon, 34, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder on Thursday in the death of her daughter, London. Police said they responded to the home in the 2100 block of Firethorn Road for a cardiac arrest call, but found the 11-year-old dead in the basement. She was strangled with a plastic drain cleaner found next to her body, detectives said.

Officers said Keyona Dillon displayed erratic behavior while at the home and while being interviewed when she was taken to Baltimore County Police Department headquarters.

Detectives said they learned that Keyona Dillon had killed the family pets and strangled her daughter after interviewing London’s 5-year-old sister. When authorities spoke to Keyona Dillon, Dillon said she believed London was having a sexual relationship with the father of her other three children, but police found no evidence of sexual abuse.

Community members said they were totally shocked by the situation. Christina Toolsee has lived in the area for 10 years and was close with Keyona Dillion for a period of time. She said her kids played with London and the younger siblings. They had taken a trip to Arizona once, and she allowed Keyona Dillon to babysit her kids.

“She was a great mom. I wouldn’t leave my kids with her if I thought she wasn’t,” Toolsee said. “I never ever thought she would’ve done something like this.”

She broke out into tears at the start of the candle lighting, comforted by her mom, who also lives with her in the neighborhood.

Kimbalee Jenkins also lives in the neighborhood and has a daughter who attended school with London. Jenkins’ daughter arranged the candles into the shape of a heart and three Ls: Long Live London.

Jenkins said it was nice to see the neighborhood come together for the child, but she expressed her surprise at what happened.

“I was in total shock,” Jenkins said when she learned of what police said took place just a few houses down the street. “You can’t believe something like that happened here. It hits different when it’s in the neighborhood.”

Jenkins said, after three years, she’s had enough of the neighborhood and is planning to move.

Ariel Johnson — London’s aunt, who said she and a few friends had contacted the likes of Child Protective Services and Adult Services for help in the days leading up to the child’s death — asked people for their prayers and support, especially for the kids.

“It’s not about us,” Johnson said. “It’s definitely about the kids.”