March being held Friday for gunned down soldier Marlon Brumfield
LOMPOC, Calif. - Lompoc pastors and neighbors will hold a march for Marlon Brumfield this Friday, September 20 at 7 p.m.
The march will honor the 22-year-old soldier who died in the early morning last Sunday on the corner of Ocean Avenue and A Street.
Brumfield was on leave from his post in Germany visiting family in Lompoc.
"I'm very grateful and feel very blessed that in a tragedy like this my brother's death is bringing about change within the community," said Brumfiled's sister Janicia Small.
A US army flag was placed at a memorial for him, where those mourning continue to pay their respects.
The march will take place at 7 p.m. starting at Starbuck Lind Mortuary and ending at city hall.
Starbuck Lind Mortuary is directly across the street from the memorial on Ocean Ave and A St.
The family is still in shock and saddened they still have no answers.
"So far we haven't heard anything, we just heard they were walking down the street to go to the store, and then he got shot. The police have not reached out to us," said Small.
Brumfield 's family is coping with the loss and said people are making assumptions that have not been proven.
"He was an innocent person that some guys just decided to shoot. He has never been in a gang any time in his life. My brother has never been affiliated with a gang, and has never hung out with gang members," explained Brumfield's sister Kayla Lavalais.
Brumfield was killed while on leave from his post in Germany.
"People saying it was gang related doesn't even really make sense to me. He was in the army, doing his job in Germany and all of a sudden he's in a gang. It doesn't make sense," said Small.
He came home to visit his friends and family.
"For him to come home, on a 30-day leave, and lose his life is absolutely heartbreaking," said pastor and community advocate Darrel Tullis.
The family said the march is open to anyone who wants to go and especially for those who have lost loved ones from violence.
"I am happy there are people standing up for him and people standing up for others in the community too so this doesn't happen again," said Small.
Community member Justin Sorhondo claims he was there the night the shooting happened and tried to help.
"Well it's definitely nice to see the community coming together," said Sorhondo.
Brumfield's sisters say he was very loving and a protector. They want him to know he will always be loved.
"We will always miss him. And he will always be with us in our hearts, and he will always be our big brother even though he was our little brother," Small said as she and Lavalais reminisce on Brumfield's legacy.
