There weren’t many dry eyes in front of the Whittier home, Sunday, that murdered Cerritos College student, Anthony Rico once shared with his family.

Approximately one month after his Aug. 31 death, Rico’s family members gathered friends, neighbors and loved ones in front of their Breckenridge Dr. home to say their final good-byes to their 22 year-old son at a candle-light vigil.

Even many of the young men in attendence, who in today’s day and age try so hard to appear tough, had tears in their eyes on this night.

Rico’s long time friend, Thomas Marino said, “I feel bad that he’s gone, but I feel good that all these people showed up to show all their love for him.”

Approximately 120 people came out to celebrate the life of this young man who will surely be missed.

“He was an awesome person . . . very respectful . . . he was just a beautiful person,” said Rico’s former Candlewood Country Club co-worker Monica Viegas. “I’ve never known him to be mean to anyone, or have an enemy, or have anything bad to say about anybody.”

These types of sentiments were echoed by many in attendance. Marino described his friend as “warm . . . kind-hearted . . . the kind of person that would go out of his way to do things for others. . . . He was a hell of a guy.”

Rico was allegedly brutally stabbed to death by 21 year-old Brandon Pacheco, a young man who had lived only a few doors away from his.

He met Pacheco 17 years earlier when his family first moved to the Whittier neighborhood.

The two of them quickly became friends, but as they grew up, Pacheco developed a deranged kind of hatred for Rico; one that even now, no one can figure out why.

In recent months, Pacheco’s hatred for Rico had become so powerful that he began stalking, and finally killing him.

When she found out about Rico’s death, Viegas said she was “shocked. It didn’t seem real . . . it was like, who could do that to him.”

Standing in front of the Rico house with all of the other hurting people, Viegas said, “I think tonight is on the level of overwhelm because even though we’ve had time to realize what’s happened, it still hurts very strong. He’s really going to be missed.”

The vigil was led by pastor Sherry Chapman, of the Universal Mind Science Church in Long Beach who talked about the kind of person Rico was, his life’s dreams and goals, and the need for his loved ones to let go of him so he can go on to do his next work.

Rico’s cousin, Victoria Ruiz also came up to read a poem about him. As she cried while reading the poem, many in attendence who had been strong began to cry also. When she finished, Rico’s older brother Jesse, his aunt Christina Martinez, his cousin James and Ruiz embraced and cried together.

After regaining their composure, Martinez went up to talk about her godson Rico. Along with talking about her love for him, she made a promise to do something to try to change police policies that the family feels contributed to the murder of Rico.

The family feels that despite their many pleas to the Sheriff’s department, nothing was done to protect him.

Martinez said, “Now it’s time to let him rest . . . let him go. But our fight has just begun . . . I am going to change things. We have to be able to feel safe in our own homes, and not have to always be looking over our shoulder for fear someone is watching us.

“I have already contacted my assemblyman, and written letters to my state senator and the president.”

“For me the biggest fight is against the Sherrifs station because they didn’t provide him with the adequate protection that he deserved and needed.

“I promissed [Rico] till the day that I die, I will keep on fighting for him,” Martinez said.

Family member, Cindy Rodriquez said, “It could not have been a better night for this vigil. There was no breeze so that the candles could be lit. It’s not too hot, it’s not too cold, the moon is perfect coming through the trees, it’s just . . . .

The energy here tonight was just awesome. There was a lot of love here tonight, and I think a lot of healing took place tonight, and now we need to let him go, as hard as it is.”

A lot of talk among those in attendence was about a moving poem Rico wrote shortly before his death, and was read by Martinez at his funeral for the approximately 400 people in attendence there.

“What are my words? Besides a reflection of my character, a reflection of my depth as a person.

“What are my words? A definite means to power, power exceeding that of nations yielding arms. Power to idolize, power to immortalize oneself.

“What are my words? Hopeful, positive, recognition. Thoughts of inspiration when pondered and reflected upon, a provider of comfort in the uncomfortable hour of life.

“My words are a mediator to balance anger and frustration, and create subtle tears of battled emotion, revealing manifested stress to avoid anarchy divided by rage.”