'He will never be forgotten;' Family remembers 28 year old man who was brutally killed

A vigil was held Saturday night for Manuel Sanchez Jr. at Jesus Roberto Vasquez Park in far east El Paso.

Sanchez Jr. was 28 years old and had Down syndrome.

He was found brutally murdered earlier this month.

“Everyone is speechless; we just have no words to this and we miss him very much,” said a family member.

“This is not El Paso, and I wanted to show the family that El Paso still cares, and to show them a little bit of El Paso strong,” said Monica Avalos, who didn't know Sanchez Jr. personally but wanted to pay her respects.

A cross, candles, pictures, and a stuffed animal were placed at a makeshift memorial at the site where Sanchez Jr.'s body and burnt out car were found.

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The family said the pain will never go away, but it was important to them to honor his memory.

On September 4th, Sanchez Jr. went to a nearby park and never came home.

Michael Leyva is accused of robbing Sanchez Jr. and then shooting and killing him.

Leyva then reportedly turned to two others to help him dispose of the body, by taking it to a desert area and setting the car and the body on fire.

Sanchez Jr.'s family said they'll do their best to remember the way he lived instead of the way he died.

“He had a contagious laugh. Meñito he made us laugh,” said a family member.

If you would like to donate to the Sanchez family you can by clicking here.

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