Virginia Beach, VA. - Bryant and Stratton College held a memorial for a student shot and killed over the weekend in Virginia Beach.
School leaders said Paul Abbey was a rising star at their college.
Corey Turner was Abbey's Junior Varsity Basketball Coach. He said he has never mentored a student like Abbey. He said Abbey turned his life around after getting into trouble with the law when he was younger.
"He was an excellent student ... He would average 23 points for me as a freshman, but he was a 4.0 student. He changed his life around. He got in trouble and did his time and turned his life around," said Turner.
The coach was heartbroken during the memorial and crying as he talked about Abbey.
Tamera Howell said she talked to her close friend over the phone Friday night just minutes before he was shot and killed on Old Diamond Springs Road near Cheetah's strip club in Virginia Beach.
"I called his phone to ask him how far away is he. I texted at 1:55 and said 'Where you at'? They found his body at 1:45," said Howell.
Monday college friends and school leaders gathered in the back parking lot. They released balloons to honor the young man who they said was excelling at college.
"He makes me want to be more positive and encourage people more and say nice things," said Howell.
"When you met him you automatically felt like you knew him forever," said Shaun Lassiter.
Turner said Abbey just got into ODU and was part of the Paralegal program at Bryant and Stratton.
Howell said he would take four or five buses in order to get to class. His coach had high expectations for the father of two and even wanted him featured on the school`s commercial.
"I love the Bryant and Stratton commercials, but Paul Abbey should be on one," said Turner.
He said the college is working to create a scholarship in his name.
Love ones want justice for the man who they said worked to make everyone else feel so special.
"Paul was the biggest flirt, old people, young people, he knew how to make people feel good...He always wanted to show love...When you met him you automatically felt like you knew him forever," said Lassiter.
"Whoever did this to this guy needs to go to jail and stay there forever," said Turner, "I never seen a day when he didn’t make him smile."
Monday police did not return repeated calls and emails about the case.
As far as we know, no one has been arrested and they have not confirmed Abbey's name.
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