Community members and leaders gathered Monday at a vigil for Tire Nichols, whose death after being beaten by Memphis police sparked outrage across the country.

Organizers chose to hold the memorial vigil at the Regency Community Skatepark in North Natomas, a place where his childhood friends said they shared many memories with him.

“We chose this skatepark because that’s where everyone knew Tire from,” said Angelina Paxton, a close friend. “That’s where our childhood memories come from.”

A few hundred people from different backgrounds and faiths attended Monday’s vigil, all with thoughts to share or prayers to offer and were encouraged by District 1 council member Lisa Kaplan to come forward and s address the crowd.

“One thing about Tyr that I’m sure we can all agree on [is] he just had this irresistible urge to make everyone smile,” his friend Ryan Wilson said.

Tyre’s sister, Keyana Dixon, and brother, Jamal Dupree, both spoke on behalf of Nichols’ family.

“I just wanted to thank you all for the continued support of our family and to make sure his name is never forgotten,” Dixon said.

The group – elevating the legacy he leaves as a beloved family member and friend – feeling reassured knowing that Tyr would be at peace with the mark in the world his life left.

“He was such a good person,” said his longtime friend Dijon Hills. “He’s definitely going to heaven, and that makes him an angel. So now we have him as an angel, to love, to watch us.”

Watch the vigil in the video player below

Those speaking out against Nichols’ fatal beatings marched through the streets of cities across the country after the body camera footage emerged. The video shows Nichols repeatedly being hit with fits, boots and batons.

Related | Protesters take to the streets of Sacramento in solidarity with others outraged by Tire Nichols police beating video

Days before the video was released, the Nichols’ family called for the protests to remain peaceful after watching the body camera ahead of its release.

| Video below | Tire Nichols’ mother opens up about his death

Daniel Hahn, the former Sacramento police chief whose time as the city’s law enforcement chief was marred by police shooting deaths — investigators ultimately found no wrongdoing — by Stephon Clark, spoke to KCRA 3 after the body camera footage aired, calling the Memphis officers’ behavior “incompetent” and “criminal” as the officers bragged about beating Nichols.

The five former Memphis officers – Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith – were fired and charged last week with second-degree murder and other related charges. On Monday, Memphis police announced that Ofc. Preston Hemphill has been relieved of duty, becoming the seventh officer sanctioned in connection with Nichols’ arrest after an unnamed officer was relieved of duty on January 23. The role of this sixth officer in the arrest was also not specified.

Memphis Police Superintendent Cerelyn Davis described the officers’ actions as ‘abhorrent, reckless and inhumane’ and said her department was unable to prove the reckless driving allegation that prompted the arrest. interpellation.

Three Memphis Fire Department personnel were also fired in connection with Nichols’ death after the department announced the three violated “multiple” policies and protocols.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.