BALTIMORE — Candles and balloons are now on Malachi Lawson's front porch, a place the four-year-old used to play. Now, family members picture Malachi playing in heaven.
Malachi died after police say he suffered severe burns and was thrown in a dumpster. His mother, Alicia Lawson, and her partner, Shatika Lawson, are charged in his death.
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Shatika's mom, Earline Code, spoke about her grandson.
"Malachi was a very happy little baby," she said.
Malachi would have been five years old in September.
"Instead of celebrating that, we're doing this. We're doing a candle light for his memory," said Melissa Johnson, Malachi's Aunt. She said Malachi was her little buddy.
"He loved to play. He loved to play Paw Patrol. You put on Paw Patrol and he'd be like yay! Paw Patrol," Johnson explained. "It's just sad to know that we're not gonna see that smile no more. That's the hardest part about all this."
Johnson said she feels like this could have been avoided.
"I feel like we missed something and I don't know what it was," said Johnson."We're all at a loss. We don't understand. We don't know what we missed or how we could have helped anymore than what we were doing."
Now, family is preparing for Malachi's funeral with help from the community. His grave plot was donated by Charm City Moose Lodge 70.
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His funeral will be held on Tuesday at the Woodlawn Cemetery. Family is still working on finalizing the time.
"God bless everybody that helped, everybody that made sure that he could be at rest and I appreciate everything," said Code.
They ended the vigil by letting their balloons float into the sky and sending their love to Malachi.
