Family, friends and community members gathered Sunday for a visitation and service for 10-year-old Aaron Vu, who was killed in a tragic nail salon shooting.
The viewing started at 3 p.m. at Northwest Baptist Church in Miami.
Several mourned the life of a young boy whose life was just beginning.
"Just missing that child is hard, it's very hard," babysitter Rene Dumas said. "It's taken its toll on the family and this community."
Aaron Vu died from his injuries after two suspects barged into the nail salon at 14832 NW 7th Ave. last week. His father, 42-year-old Hai Vu, was also shot and was recovering at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
With an IV and a sling on his arm, Hai Vu broke down in tears as he watched a slideshow with pictures of his son at the service.
"We are in the process of healing slowly," aunt Thi Pham said.
Even those who didn't know Aaron Vu showed up to support the family.
"It's our own community. It doesn't matter that we know or we don't know, but once it happens to one of us, it means it happens to all of us," said Winnie Tang, the president of the Asian American Federation of Florida. "We are here, but we are not alone."
Miami-Dade police have arrested and charged 19-year-old Anthawn Ragan Jr. with first-degree murder with a firearm and battery on a law enforcement officer. Another suspect remains at large.
Aaron Vu's funeral mass will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at St. Mark's Roman Catholic Church at 5601 South Flamingo Road in Southwest Ranches. The burial will follow at Hollywood Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Hollywood.
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