Friends and family gathered in Suffolk on the evening of Dec. 29 to mourn for Da’Jour Collins Sr., a 25-year-old man who was killed in a Portsmouth shooting that occurred on Christmas Eve.

Da’Jour “D.J.” Jonoid Collins Sr. lived in Virginia Beach and was raised in Suffolk. He is the son of Dytania Collins and Taras Jones, according to his obituary on crockerfuneralhome.com.

He attended Lakeland High School and worked at Birdsong Peanuts as a farmer stock. He was also a father to a daughter and two sons, as well as another son who died, according to his obituary.

Family friend Kelsey Walker described in a phone interview how attendees met for the Dec. 29 vigil at a shopping mall on White Marsh Road in Suffolk.

A prayer was said by Bishop A.S. Hall Sr., and Walker read some comments in honor of Collins. More than 30 balloons were released at the vigil, as well.

“It just shows how much he was loved,” Walker said about the vigil. “It was a good turnout. He was loved (and) respected highly. It just adds to how tragic this is. This person everybody loved is just gone.”

The group then walked to nearby 1030 Cogic Square. It was where Da’Jour Collins Sr. was raised for most of his life, Walker said, and where his friends and family lit candles that evening in solemn remembrance of him.

“I just miss him,” his mother, Dytania Collins, said in a phone interview. “I just miss my baby.”

A celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Balm Church East Campus on East Washington Street. Bishop A.S. Hall Sr. will deliver the message of comfort. He will be laid to rest in Carver Memorial Cemetery.

The Portsmouth Police investigation into the case remains ongoing. Anyone with information pertaining to the case may contact Detective Alexander at 237-9361.