Friends and family release balloons during a vigil for Thomas “Tommy” McClain who was fatally shot by Eureka police early Wednesday morning. Credit: Mark McKenna

Friends and family gathered Friday evening to remember Thomas “Tommy” McClain, a 22-year-old Eureka man fatally shot by police early Wednesday morning. The shooting, which occurred as officers held McClain at gunpoint in front of a residence on the 1600 block of Allard Avenue, opening fire when he allegedly reached for a gun, is currently under investigation by a multi-agency county critical incident response team.

Local photographer Mark McKenna was at Friday’s vigil, and shared the following images.

Friends and family release balloons during a vigil for Thomas “Tommy” McClain held at the scene of Wednesday’s shooting. Credit: Mark McKenna

McClain’s stepfather, Frank Barragan, left, his mother Jeanne, and brother, Nathaniel, comfort each other shortly after friends and family released balloons during Friday’s Vigil. Credit: Mark McKenna
Corinna Ward and Patsy Yazzolino comfort each other. Credit: Mark McKenna
Josh Mottern, McClain’s cousin, stands in front of signs set out at the vigil. Credit: Mark McKenna
Andrew Evans holds a candle during the vigil for his friend and co-worker. Evans said McClain’s death was mind blowing adding, “He was a mellow, kind kid. I could never see him being violent.” Credit: Mark McKenna
Evans places a candle in front of McClain’s photo. Credit: Mark McKenna
Nichole and Josh Mottern sit near a photo of McClain with their daughters Kendra, right, and Valorie. Josh Mottern was McClain’s cousin and McClain had been living with the Motterns at a home on Allard Avenue in Eureka. McClain was fatally shot outside the home early Wednesday morning. Credit: Mark McKenna
Valorie Mottern, 4, holds a candle near a photo of her cousin. Credit: Mark McKenna
Nichole Mottern hugs a friend. Credit: Mark McKenna

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This article appears in Jaso at the Bat.

Thadeus Greenson is the news editor of the North Coast Journal.

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