Friends, family gathered to remember slain Richmond officer

RICHMOND, Calif. (KGO) -- Friends and family came together Thursday night to remember the Richmond police officer shot and killed in his own home. Officer Gus Vegas was killed inside his Vallejo home last week by the father of his grandchild.

Officer Vegas' family arrived at Hill Vallejo Church before sunset hugging one another. Within an hour, the line for those hugs filled the entire church celebration center.

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"We were laughing because his picture is up there and he's kind of looking back smiling and we said he's probably up there thinking, 'Dang, all of this for me?' That's just how he was," Vegas' son, Enrico Maldonado, said.

His son says he'd be thrilled by the honor.

Even the family's pastor called for cheers in the celebration of Vegas' life, for the Richmond Police Department and for the hundreds of people who showed up for the Vegas family. Pastor Scott Peterson recognized there was a lot of love in the room and Officer Vegas' children say they felt that kind of love their entire life.

"He was just a great man, just a great man," Maldonado said.

His son says his father did everything to the best of his ability. Maldonado said, "He's a black belt Taekwondo. He used to practice on us quite often, get a kick to the rib."

Memories like those filled the church lobby, including pictures of young love when he married his wife and when his kids were growing up.

Thursday, those who love Vegas most began saying goodbye.

A public memorial will be held Friday morning at Richmond Memorial Auditorium on Civic Center Plaza and it will stream right here on ABC7News.com. The procession will begin at 9 a.m. and the memorial service will begin at 10 a.m. followed by a private burial.

RELATED: Family of slain Richmond officer forgives suspected killer

A GoFundMe account has been set to the help the Vegas family. For more information, click here.

Also, the Richmond Police Officers' Association has created an account at Mechanics Bank in Officer Vegas' memory. All donations will go towards helping the Vegas family.

Mechanics Bank
Routing number: 121102036
Account number: 041305213
Richmond POA in memory of Gus Vegas

Click here for full coverage on the Richmond Officer Gus Vegas.