Family and friends gathered outside the home where 4-year-old Dominic Rangel and his mother, 27-year-old Brianna Lee, were found dead in what police are calling an apparent murder-suicide.
Family members shared memories and said prayers as they lit candles.
"My son being taken so young just kills me. Sometimes I feel like I have no more motivation, like I have no more drive, but my family is keeping me strong, telling me to continue," said Louis Rangel, Dominic's father.
Rangel said his son's death feels like a bad dream.
"It hasn't hit me because I wasn't able to see my son. Knowing that I'm not going to be able to take him home at night and cuddle with him, it kills me," Rangel said.
According to police, Dominic and his mother were found dead inside their apartment on the 200 block of Kelsey Avenue. A handgun was found nearby.
"She was fine. I spoke with her earlier this week, everything was fine, everything was OK and then all of a sudden I get a call from one of my best friends asking me if I heard the news," said Rangel.
Rangel and his family said they will always hold tight to their memories of Dominic. They've even found a way to carry a little piece of him with them.
"We're going to cremate my son. My family, my mother, my sister, my brothers, we're going to have ash pendants to carry his ashes and have them with us at all times," Rangel said.