Around three dozen people were at Dora High School Saturday for a vigil honoring Matthew Perrigin. It's the high school Perrigin graduated from.
Perrigin is one of the latest victims to gun violence.
Correy Mahaffey and his 16-year-old son are now charged in the shooting death of Perrigin.
The Walker County Sheriff's Office said it happened in January during a robbery.
Perrigin was a 32-year-old father, son and brother.
"Matthew had a big heart. He was one of the people you can count on in a time of need," said his father, Lloyd.
According to his father, like many people, his son had demons in his past.
"He was getting a second chance at life. He was employed in Birmingham and working to try and rebuild himself," he said.
He added, "I felt like he had turned a corner to try and overcome that and try to rebuild his life because he had young children that he wanted to be a role model for and for them to look up to him as well."
Perrigin's father is not asking for prayers tonight but instead to hear his message.
Just heightened awareness that this can touch everybody. Drug addiction is a disease.
When asked how Perrigin's two children are doing, he responded "they're struggling. I'm struggling. My wife is struggling. The whole family is struggling. So, we've got to get them some assistance. Some therapy to talk about it."
Saturday's candlelight vigil and balloon release was more than just a time to remember Perrigin.
Community activist and family friend Harry "Traveling Shoes" Turner was there to raise awareness against violence and so was Angela Harris, the mother of Aniah Blanchard.
She addressed Perrigin's family and the crowd and said, "I hate this happened for you and to you and for everybody. We shouldn't be here. Matthew should be here. Aniah should be here."
Members from the group Mothers of Murdered Sons were also in attendance and spoke at the vigil.