Mourners held candles, shed tears and embraced one another at a somber candlelight vigil Wednesday night to remember Feras Morad, a college student who was shot and killed by Long Beach police last week.
Hundreds of family and friends gathered at a park in Woodland Hills as they struggled to come to grips with the killing of the 20-year-old debate speech standout, who was unarmed when an officer shot him during a confrontation.
"I don't know how this can happen to someone like him," said his sister, Ghada Morad. "He didn't do anything wrong enough to. Even if he did do something wrong, he shouldn't have died."
Morad's death left many of his peers speechless. Others shared fond memories of the El Camino Real High School graduate.
"He was more than just a politician, a scholar. He was a human being with the biggest heart that I'll ever know," said his girlfriend, Raenelle Navarro.
As loved ones continued to grieve, Long Beach police on Wednesday released audio of a 911 call placed before the killing on May 27.
Morad had broken through the glass of a second-story window before being shot by a police officer, sparking a debate among witnesses and on social media as to whether the officer should have used lethal force.
"How can you possibly justify that? An unarmed, disoriented, shirtless, injured person. And you resort to a killing? " said Morad's cousin, Kareem.
"I just want justice for my brother. Whoever killed my brother, be punished," Ghada Morad said.
