GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Friends and family of Malik Carey -- the man killed after firing at police in Southeast Grand Rapids -- remembered him at a vigil Saturday, May 6. mlive.com
"He is not what people want to portray him as," said Lavern Dennis. "He had a loving heart."
Carey, 18, was fatally wounded after police say he fired upon them in the 1300 block of Dickinson Street SE about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 3.
18-year-old shot by Grand Rapids police during 'firefight'
Police apparently were trying to take Carey into custody because he was a probation absconder. But he refused to obey officers commands and, according to police, pulled out a handgun and fired at police.
Officers returned fire and Carey went down. Police later said he died from two gunshot wounds.
Saturday, those who knew Carey said he was a good friend to many.
"Despite outrageous acts of what happened, Malik was the funniest, loving, and most caring person I know," said Trenton Waters, 20.
Teen shot by police on probation for earlier shooting
Joe Gomez, 18, said he was polite and "a big teddy bear."
Others simply said there was more to Carey than his criminal record, which including a conviction for assault with intent to do great bodily harm.
"I don't believe he was the guy the media described him to be," said Krik Taylor. "Peoples' mistakes do not define them."