Jerrison Garcia was not the kind of guy who worried about much, according to his father, Nelson. Growing up as the oldest of two brothers, he got along well with his family and made friends easily. “He was a free spirit,” Nelson said. “Everyone liked him."

Jerrison wasn’t sure what he wanted to do when he graduated from high school, so he began working with his father as a delivery guy at night. When he craved independence a few years later, he got a job as a night-time security guard in Queens.

“He liked the job, but his favorite thing was his friends,” said his father. On days off they would make music and watch basketball. Although most of them were Knicks fans, he followed the Lakers. “Kobe was his favorite player, ever since he saw him, so they were his team,” Nelson said.

When he died, Jerrison was on the way to play basketball with some friends.