YORK COUNTY, Va. - Family and friends held a candlelight vigil on Friday night to remember a security guard shot and killed outside of County Grill.
Richard "Bird" Irvin was escorting Ryan Lewis off the property Thursday morning when Lewis killed him, according to the York-Poquoson Sheriff's Office. Deputies are still trying to locate Lewis.
Friends say they're not surprised Irvin put himself in harm's way to protect others. "It hurt, but it doesn't surprise us because that's what he did," said Jesse Joyce, a friend. "He protected people and he paid for it with his life."
Irvin was supposed to be Joyce's best man in his wedding next spring. Irvin won't be there now, but he'll still be best man. "I'm not going to replace him. To me in my heart, that would be an injustice to replace him," said Joyce.
Friends described Irvin as a "gentle giant," who was 6 feet 9 inches. While he might look intimidating, they say he actually wasn't. "He would give you the shirt off his back and the last dollar out of his pocket," said Joyce.
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