VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — More than 100 people remembered the life of Donovon Lynch during a vigil near the Virginia Beach Oceanfront Tuesday.
A Virginia Beach police officer shot and killed Lynch, 25, near Atlantic Avenue and 20th Street on March 26.
“My brother loved his family with his whole heart," said his sister Lauryn Lynch.
Family and friends organized the tribute in the area where Lynch died. The vigil was made up of candles, pictures, balloons, and signs calling for justice.
"If they can take Donovon, they can take any of us because he played by the rules and they still took him," said one friend at the vigil.
The unidentified officer did not activate his or her body cam during the shooting. The circumstances surrounding the encounter remain unclear, but the Virginia Beach Police Department said two officers, including the one that shot Lynch, claim he "brandished" a handgun at the time of the shooting.
His family disputes the claim.
“This false narrative going around that he was involved in this, he did that, he did that is a lie and the truth will prevail," said Wayne Lynch, Donovan's father.
Lynch said called his son "a prince on the way to becoming a king." He said the former college athlete and UVA Wise graduate had become an entrepreneur, juggling several jobs. His father said Donovan loved his family, took care of others, and always stayed positive.
He called him a son anyone could be proud of.
“Intelligent, handsome, athletic, nice, humble [...] all the adjectives you can say that’s Donovon," said Wayne Lynch. “He never, ever let me down.”
Organizers asked that people bring shoestrings if they can, and asked that people who arrive be respectful. The crowd tied the shoestrings around tree branches in memory of Lynch's love for shoes. His sister, Lauryn, said Lynch had become a shoe reseller and she will continue his business. The siblings, six years apart, shared a love of fashion, she said.
"It brings a smile to my face to see all the people he touched," she said. "He's definitely looking down on me and he is proud."
Virginia Beach Police said two people, including Lynch, were killed in multiple shootings along a popular Oceanfront strip and that eight other people were wounded.
Virginia State Police is handling the investigation into Lynch's death.
Among those calling for a thorough and transparent investigation into Lynch's death is Grammy-winning musician Pharrell Williams. He says the victim is his cousin.
Lynch's sister said the family is still grieving, but they will fight to clear his name.
“When we finish with Virginia Beach we are going to have the biggest building in the city with his name on it," Wayne Lynch told the crowd. "That’s what we’re going to do."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.