Tyz'Juan James, 20, was shot and killed Saturday night in a Southeast Portland parking lot. On Tuesday evening family, loved ones, and community members gathered to remember him.
About 30 people showed up at a church in N Portland to memorialize James.
Mourners brought photos, and talked about Tyz' Juan - recalling fond memories, as well as calling out police for not releasing any more details on the murder of their son, grandson, brother, and friend.
"There was no follow-up phone call. There was nothing. It was like he didn't even matter," said Asia Nique Savage, Tyz'Juan’s sister.
Perlia Bell, Tyz' Juan’s grandmother, says his family pleaded with police for details on the crime.
"We basically begged and asked for information, like what was going on. To know that your child is here lifeless... my grandson was 20 years old. He was 20 years old," said Bell.
He had a life ahead of him. His innocent life was taken.
Bell said she was aware that getting information after a shooting takes time, but was upset that the family still hadn't received any information by Tuesday after the Saturday murder.
"This baby came into this world with trauma. His mother was killed when he was like 4 months old. The bullets went right across his head. So he came in here in trauma, and he left here on trauma. He had no chance," Bell said with tears in her eyes. "I gave them wrap-around love. I raised the four children. I raised them. I taught them. I shelter them from this... this is what I sheltered them from. And 30 days before his 21st birthday, I get a call at 2:30 in the morning. 2:30 in the morning he's lifeless and he's 20 years old."
Bell also issued a heartwrenching plea to Portland and the world at large to stop the violence.
Now we at 2023, and we here in front, begging and pleading to the world, to Portland, to anybody, who sees us, please stop the violence. Stop doing this. I can't march no more. I'm tired. I'm tired, I'm tired of seeing all these black families, uncles, cousins, family, in front of the news media begging please help me. There's something we can do.
Makayla James, Tyz'Juans's girlfriend of 5 years, told KATU about how Tyz'Juan supported his family and the Portland community.
"He cared for people a lot. He had a big heart for everyone. Family, friends, everyone. Acquaintances. Didn't matter who you were. he just had such a unique way of showing love," James said.
He was a giver. He loved the houseless community. He was like that since he was a little boy. To pass out blankets, talk to people and give them that ray of hope that they may not have had. At the end of the day, at any conversation, when you left Tyz'Juan he would tell you that he loved you. I love you granny, I love you sis, no matter if the conversation ended in a way that neither one of us wanted to. He would always end it with 'I love you.'
Asia Nique Savage told KATU that her brother loved doing services, singing, and children.
"He was definitely a gentle spirit. He was my personal bodyguard, my little brother. He loved me. He's more like my son," she said.
I feel very unsafe without him being here. He was my protector, and I haven't slept since Saturday because I feel scared. Because I don't know what's going on. Nobody's talking to us.