MOBILE, Ala. (WPMI) A Mobile family is desperately seeking justice and prayers after their loved one was shot and killed in front of a Mobile post office Wednesday night.
A candlelight prayer vigil was held Sunday evening in the very spot where 48-year-old Joey O'Brien's body was found. Family, friends and even strangers lit candles and shared fond memories of the man relatives say was killed in a senseless act of violence.
There's not much anyone can do to comfort a family after a loved one is murdered.
I love my brother. I'm going to miss him dearly. He can't be replaced, said Jackie O'Brien, the victim's brother.
But as hundreds of tearful people lifted the O'Brien family in prayer, it brought a bit of comfort to Jackie O'Brien.
I feel blessed. My brother touched a lot of people, said O'Brien.
Police said 48-year-old Joey O'Brien was riding his bike downtown Wednesday night, as he often does, when he was shot and killed in front of the post office at Springhill Avenue and Broad Street.
My brother was murdered on my birthday. October 23, 2013 will live in infamy. I'll never forget this, said O'Brien.
O'Brien was active at Little Flower Catholic Church. Many of the people in attendence at Sunday's vigil were fellow church members, family and friends.But there were strangers in the mix too, like Nathaniel Blanks, who made the drive downtown to simply show support.
Prayer changes everything and when we were told they were going to have a prayer vigil we wanted to come out and be with the family, said Blanks. The family said the gunman stole O'Brien's bike, nothing else.Police have made no arrests and don't know a motive.
I don't want to live in fear but when things like this happen it scares the heck out of everybody, said family friend Pat Pollman.
I walk a lot at night. I visit my brother and son sometimes and they do the same to me and to think that this young man Joey was riding his bicycle, it's sad to see such a thing happen like that, said Blanks.
To have Joey gunned down senselessly, I'm mad as hell. I am mad as hell. You know? I'd like to know who did it. You hear all the Christian things to say but you can't help but have the emotion of the anger, the hate. You killed my brother. You took him in cold blood for no reason, said Jackie O'Brien.
The prayers will continue on Monday. Joey O'Briens' funeral will be held at Little Flower Catholic Church at 1pm. Visitation begins at 10am.
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