TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — There's a memorial service for Tyras McKinney happening Wednesday evening.
McKinney, known to his friends at TJ, was a gentle giant. His fiancee and 3-year-old son were his entire life and he was so excited to marry Niesha later this year.
Pastor Joseph Davis is the McKinney family's pastor and had just started counseling McKinney and his fiancée in advance of their wedding, the week before he was shot while working at Clippers barbershop.
Pastor Davis says it's so tragic and hard to understand why something so terrible could happen to such a good and caring person. He adds that right now the family is just trying to plan their future without McKinney.
"With love and support from friend and family they are coping with it the best they know how," said Pastor Davis. "I have been in contact with them ever since the incident. Just like any human being they're hurting, in pain, having question and just trying to figure our what life in the future looks like without TJ."
Pastor Davis says this has been a tragedy for the religious community to see a life taken too soon.
McKinney was 27-years-old and you could always find him in church with his son and fiancée.
Pastor Davis says in this time of mourning, he hopes the community can rise up and be strong for Mckinney's family and friends.
He welcomes everyone to Wednesday's memorial service, which starts at 6:30 p.m.
