DECATUR, Arkansas — Dozens gathered Tuesday evening dressed in blue to honor the memory of Decatur High School senior Barry Jun Mongkeya a week after his untimely death and on what would have been his 20th birthday.
On March 11, Decatur High School student Barry Mongkeya was shot and killed. The Benton County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) says that while the incident appears to be an accident, the investigation is not yet complete and so the nature of the incident can't yet be confirmed.
Barry's father, Barry Sao Mongkeya, or Barry Sr., was in attendance at the candlelight vigil, which was held at Edmiston Ballpark, which is Decatur's Home Baseball Field.
Barry Sr. says that he is very grateful for the love and support from the community.
"It's something that I really appreciate, I can see the support from this community, and it really reminds me of back home. All we do back home when somebody is in this current situation, everybody gets together," Barry Sr. said. "I feel so happy to see each and every one of these random families and everyone come together, you know, on his 20th birthday."
Barry Sr. says he remembers everything from the night of Barry Jr.'s passing.
“It was really shocking. It was a really, really shocking situation," Barry Sr. said. He says that he was at work when he was pulled aside and told of an emergency at home. '"Something happened to your son,'" he recounted. "By the time I got home in a police car, everybody was there. I really didn't know what to do."
This isn't the first time Barry Sr. has experienced heartbreak.
“So, one of his brothers passed away before we left home, when he was 13. And it really breaks my heart. We moved down to Guam, and their mom passed away. And it was just me. Him and his brother moved down here. And all of a sudden, he left us and it's just me and his brother," Barry Sr. said.
He says he's getting by knowing that his two sons and wife are in a better place.
“It is so hard for me to think about my two sons that passed away along with my wife, but I know that God does for them just better than where we are now,” Barry Sr. said.
Attendees at the vigil wore blue and brought blue balloons, Barry Jr.'s favorite color.
If you would like to donate to Barry Jr.'s GoFundMe, you can click here. To read more about the incident, including the response from the school district and local law enforcement, click here.
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