Two young men shot to death last week in Tempe were remembered over the weekend for their fun-loving personalities and their zest for life.

The family of Kayon Williams, 16, shared memories of him on Sunday as being a smart and kind kid who put a smile on everyone’s face. 

Family and friends shared memories of DeSean Estrada, 20, at a Sunday evening vigil.  More than 60 people gathered at Dwight Park, lighting paper lanterns and pushing into the air where they floated like hot air balloons. 

Brixton Ruport went to school with Estrada at McClintock High, and recalled how his classmate helped him produce his first hip-hop song. 

 He was “super funny, had a great personality. Made a lot of people laugh. He was very giving, very giving,” Ruport said as he left the somber vigil.

Estrada graduated from McClintock in 2015 while Williams was a junior at McClintock. 

The two were found dead by police around 11:15 p.m. in a parked car at the Garden Grove Apartment Homes near Guadalupe and Kyrene roads. One was in the driver’s seat, the other in the front passenger’s seat.

Police said the shooting doesn’t appear to be a random act of violence. No suspect or suspects have been identified. 

Krischelle Washington, a cousin of Williams, has set up a Go Fund Me account to raise money for funeral expenses.

“He was goofy. He was always fooling around,” said Washington, 19, of Tempe.

Williams loved to cook and won a culinary award while in high school.

“I loved how he cooked bacon. I’ve never eaten bacon cooked better than his,” said his grandfather, Michael Wilson.

Wilson said his grandson loved Michael Jordan and knew everything there was to know about the former NBA basketball star. 

“Once he went to the mall with me and we went by a tennis shoes shop. He started naming everything every one of those Michael Jordan’s (shoes) he saw. The owner was amazed and gave him his card and told to call him because he wanted to give him a job,” said Wilson, 59, of Tempe.

The Tempe Union High School District issued a statement on Friday about the young men. 

“Our hearts are broken at the news of the tragic loss of two young lives. McClintock Junior Kayon Williams was well-liked by everyone who knew him. He has been described as funny and loved to make people laugh. The entire McClintock family is devastated by his death.”

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