AUSTIN -- An emotional memorial took place Thursday night at the scene of a young student's homicide. A a candlelight vigil was held for Enrique Recio. He was shot and killed just 10 days before his 24th birthday.
Battery operated candles lined the sidewalk on Staked Plains Drive near Avery Ranch Boulevard, where Recio lost his life last Friday. Soon real candles were lit in honor of his memory. Recio's family and friends gathered and stood in silent reflection for nearly 30 minutes. The silence was broken only once, so that prayers could be read by family friend Letty Vasquez.
"You see our sadness and our loneliness," Vazquez read. "You see our questions and our anxiety. Enrique's death is hard for us to understand."
Her son was one of Recio's closest friends.
"That prayer in particular just really spoke volumes about how we are feeling," said Vasquez. "It is just shock, sadness, anxiety. There are questions as to why, but here we are. Every day we are going to get stronger."
On the other side of the fence from the candlelight was another kind of light -- police lights. APD cruisers were parked in the driveway of the home belonging to 47-year-old Fred Yazdi. He's been charged with murder after shooting Recio as Recio fled from Yazdi's front lawn.
Police say about 3 a.m. last Friday, while it was raining, Recio lost control of his car and hit a light pole and a retaining wall on Avery Ranch. He walked to Yazdi's house and police say Yazdi shot him.
"I know homeowners want to protect their house," said Linda Malocalha, who attended the vigil. "But not like this. I know a lot of people like guns. I do not. I do not wish this to anybody. I am from Albania. In our country you do not even wish this on your enemies. It is just very, very sad."
None of the lights were on at Yazdi's home during the vigil. Police had gone to the door earlier, but no one appeared to be home.
