DOWAGIAC — Emotion filled the air Thursday evening as community members filled the parking lot behind Dowagiac businesses, many wearing blue and orange T-shirts carrying the emblem “Justice for Jimmy.”

As drummers with the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians played traditional music in the background, a crowd embraced each other, sharing both tears and laughter in memory of a fallen community member.

A candlelight vigil was hosted Thursday evening in memory of Fabian Wesaw, 42, of Dowagiac, who was known by friends and family as “Jimmy.” Wesaw was killed after a shooter allegedly shot into a crowd the morning of Sunday, July 29 in the parking lot where the vigil was hosted. The shooting took place after a fight inside the Beeson Street Bar on July 29 spilled out into the parking lot and a shooter fired several shots into a crowd, hitting and killing Wesaw. According to police, Wesaw was not involved in the fight, but was attempting to break up the fight prior to his death. The suspected shooter, Rolandis Russell, 24, of Dowagiac, has been charged with first-degree murder.

The vigil Thursday evening was not just about mourning Wesaw’s death, but celebrating and remembering his life, according to the family and friends in attendance.

Wesaw was an active member of the community, serving both as treasurer for the Dowagiac Eagles and as a drummer for the Pokagon Band.

“He always had a song and was willing to lend a hand,” recalled Wesaw’s friend and fellow drummer Arthur Zapata. “We want to support the family during this time.”

For Wesaw’s niece, Margaret Long, the night was about remembering the man who served as a father figure to her.

“He was always happy and laughing. He was so funny,” Long said. “He would do anything for anybody. He loved everybody. … Jimmy was a big personality and there aren’t a lot of people in Dowagiac who didn’t know who he was.”

Though she called Wesaw’s death tragic, Long said Wesaw would have wanted people to celebrate his life rather than focus on the way he died. She added that she was grateful for all the support she and her family received at the vigil.

“He was a good man, and he didn’t deserve this. … It’s not fair,” she said. “But, he would want us to remember the good things about him. … He would be touched by everyone coming [to the vigil], and he would be so happy to see that he had made an impact on all these people’s lives.”